Fernandez rallies at Founders

Victoria Sun

Friday, July 19, 2002 | 10:13 a.m.

Forgive Foothill High grad Christine Fernandez if she seemed distracted during the Las Vegas Founders Junior golf tournament.

First, her future college coach at Tulsa told her she was leaving to become coach at Arizona State. Then her father Mario fell ill Monday, one day before the three-day event.

Somehow, Fernandez managed to put it all behind her and carded a final-round 1-under 71 Thursday at the Revere at Anthem to win the 54-hole event with a 223 total.

"This is my first AJGA win and it's nice," Fernandez said. "My first and my last (before college)."

Her previously best finishes in an AJGA tournament were third and sixth place, both in the Founders event.

On Thursday, Fernandez was comforted to have her father, who was feeling better, and mother Connie watching her. She started on the back nine, where she had four birdies. She won despite "falling apart completely" on the front with four bogeys and one birdie.

In the boys division, James Lee of Fullerton, Calif., nursed his second-round lead to gain his first AJGA win. After a second-round 4-under 68, he shot 3-over 75 for a 215 total. Tied for second at 4-over 220 were Denny Bae of Los Angeles, C.J. Gatto of Columbus, Ohio, and Christopher Heintz of Brea, Calif.

Lee, a high school sophomore-to-be, wanted desperately to win an AJGA tournament to gain entry into larger invitationals. His victory qualified him for the Polo Golf Junior Classic in November.

"I had confidence to win because I had been playing well," Lee said. "I feel kind of weird right now. Before, a lot of my friends in my class (2005) had all won an AJGA except me, so I'm glad I won."

Coronado High senior Matt Edwards finished tied for 10th. He and Lee shared the lead after opening-round 72s, then went in opposite directions, with Lee shaving four strokes in the second round and Edwards shooting 10-over 82.

"You always come in to win it," Edwards said. "It's how I always play. It's how I've been taught."