July 16, 2007

Chris DeForest, who joins the University of Illinois golf team this fall, claimed the title at the Westfield Junior PGA championship this weekend in Westfield Center, Ohio.

DeForest, a native of Cottekill, N.Y., won the title with a 10-under par 274 to win the tournament by six strokes over Mark Johnson of Tulsa, Okla. The 274 is three strokes off the course record. His 54-hole score of 13-under 200 was a course record. DeForest survived 20-mile-per hour winds to fire a 74 in the final round to win the Jack Nicklaus Trophy.

DeForest told golfweek.com that advice from Illinois golf coach Mike Small helped him refocus after a tough tournament the week before.

Former winners of the tournament include professionals Billy Andrade (1981), Billy Mayfair (1982), David Toms (1984)) and Sean O'Hair (1998)

DeForest qualifies for the Harder German Junior Masters, Aug. 6-9, at Heddesheim Golf Club in Gut Neuzenhof, Germany.

Complete story from PGA.com
Complete story from golfweek.com