GAINESVILLE, Va. – Amanda Sambach of Charlotte, N.C., won the 30th Rolex Girls Junior Championship to claim her second AJGA Invitational title.
The Rolex Girls Junior Championship is one of the most prestigious events on the AJGA schedule. The tournament boasts several high-profile champions, including Kellee Booth, Brittany Lang, Inbee Park, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Ariya Jutanugarn and Alison Lee. In addition to its notable past champions, the all-girls Invitational is known for its distinguished host venues, which includes LPGA International, Long Cove Club, The Country Club of North Carolina, Promontory Club, Dalhousie Golf Club and Concession Golf Club.
Sambach opened the tournament with consecutive rounds of 2-under-par 70 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club to give herself a one-stroke lead at 4-under-par 140. After the third round, Sambach was tied with Alexa Pano of Lake Worth, Florida, at 2-under-par 214.
The champion started the round off strong with a birdie on No. 1, and had two more birdies on the front nine. After making the turn at 2-under-par 34, she bogeyed Nos. 11 and 12. Going head to head with Pano on the next few holes, Sambach pulled ahead on No. 14 and moved to the top of the leaderboard where she remained through No. 18.
Sambach finished the final round with four birdies to give herself the victory over Pano with a final score of 3-under-par 285. This is Sambach’s seventh AJGA tournament win.
“Winning the Rolex Girls Junior Championship means everything,” Sambach said. “I’ve had a rough stretch the past couple of months with coming off of an injury, so to get this win it means a lot.”
This is Sambach’s second time winning an AJGA Invitational sponsored by Rolex. The University of Virginia signee won the 2018 Rolex Tournament of Champions held at PGA National Resort & Spa. She followed that up with two victories in 2019. Those wins propelled Sambach to a spot on Team USA with Pano at the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup.
“This win is huge because it was a goal of mine to make the Wyndham Cup team this year,” Sambach said. “Coming into the week I was lower on the priority list, so I knew I needed to play well to increase my chances of making the team. It’s one of the most fun events I’ve played in, so I’m really excited for it now.”