Alexis Thompson, winner at the AJGA Aldila Junior Classic

Alexis Thompson, 12 years old, topped the field of 27 girls to win her first AJGA event at the Aldila Junior Classic at Treyburn Country Club in Durham, North Carolina on April 21-22. Alexis becomes the second-youngest winner in AJGA history and with this win, gains invitations to such prestigious tournaments as the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, Betsy Rawls Girls Championship and Polo Golf Junior Classic.

After the first round, Alexis found herself tied for the lead shooting a 2-over par 74. She had a strong back nine in the first round making three birdies. In the final round, Alexis was one stroke behind the leader heading to the 18th hole. "Coming down to the last hole I was nervous because the 18th hole is a hard hole. I knew I could make up a stroke on that hole because many girls were making bogey on 18," said Alexis. "I just thought to myself just make par or birdie and I had a great chance to win or at least make it into a playoff." She sank a three foot putt for par while the leader made double bogey to clinch the victory. She matched her first round score of 74 to secure the title by one. "It feels awesome to win," said Alexis. "My goal for this summer was to win an AJGA event and it's great to have achieved it so fast."

Alexis, from Coral Springs, was only 10 years old when she started playing in Florida Junior Tour (FJT) events. Alexis proved she can play with the older girls leading the division points list with five wins. She also has a win in the 16-18 age division at the 54-hole Disney event last November. Alexis competed in one other AJGA event where she finished fourth out of 43 girls. Now securing her spot in AJGA Invitationals, "I want to keep playing against the best girls in the country," said Alexis. "It will make me better."

Born and raised in Coral Springs, Alexis has grown up around golf. In a family of golfers, brother Nicholas qualified for the Tour last year, Alexis was introduced to golf when she was five by her father. When she was seven she was already competing in tournaments.

We will be seeing a lot of this sixth grader in the very near future!