GGGA student Carlos Riascos trailed in second place after the first round by 1.
The prominent sophomore, who is originally from Colombia, pulled away with the victory after the conclusion of the second round at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Nemacolin, one of 12 events as part of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star series.
After finishing the 36-hole event, Riascos, who is a student in the Full-Time Junior Program at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, finished with a two-day total of 4-over-par 148 to win the Boys Division at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Golf Club in Farmington, Pa., just outside of Pittsburgh.
The tournament was a close battle between Riascos and second place finisher Jack Parrott, who only finished one stroke behind the talented sophomore.
Though he did struggle with No. 11 on the first round, where he scored 2-over-par, Carlos was still able to bounce back to finish the next two holes with birdies. At the end of the first round, Riascos was able to close the round competitively with a total of 7 birdies.
The head-to-head battle was close, but the victory over Parrott was sealed when Parrot made a bogey on hole No. 17, propelling Riascos to victory.
“I made birdie on No. 17 even with the difficult wind conditions,” Riascos said, which he credited as an important turning point in his final round.
This win earned Carlos his first AJGA trophy after four previous AJGA tournament appearances. It is his second win this year as he also claimed a win at the PJGT at ChampionsGate in the fall.
ABOUT GGGA
The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, located near Orlando, FL in Howey in the Hills, is the world’s premier junior golf academy led by junior golf’s No. 1 coach Gary Gilchrist.
The Academy is committed to excellence in every facet of golf, fitness, personal development and academics. In addition to the junior golf program, GGGA also features summer golf camps, winter golf camps and programs, training and golf lessons for amateurs, professionals and adults.
Gary Gilchrist, founder of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, has been recognized as a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher 2013-2014 and as a Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher in America 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. Gilchrist teaches many of the games top juniors and pros at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, of which include: Morgan Hoffmann, Shanshan Feng, Sandra Gal and many more.