HARBOR SPRINGS -- It seems fitting that Zachary Balit would win the Coca-Cola Junior Championships on the Fourth of July.
The Bradenton, Fla. boy rallied from a four-shot deficit in the final round to win the American Junior Golf Association tournament by four shots. Balit shot a 68 in the final round, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 No. 14 at the Boyne Highlands' Moor course.
In the girls tournament, Grace Na of Oakland, Calif. held off a charge from Madison Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla. Na shot a 72 in Friday's final round to finish at 6-over 220, one shot better than Pressel.
Na led by five shots through the front nine on Friday. Pressel, the younger sister of LPGA Tour player Morgan Pressel, got as close as one down the stretch.
The 15-year-pld Na birdied the final hole for the one-shot victory, her first AJGA title.
Finishing in a tie for second in the boys tournament was Joey Garber of Petoskey and Vero Beach, Fla., and Zachery Sobel of Clearwater Beach, Fla. Garber closed with a final-round 69 while Sobel, who held at least a share of the lead after the first two days, shot a 76 to finish at even-par 214.
Traverse City's Tony Casciano tied for 65th at 240 with a 78 in the final round. Suttons Bay's Charlie Olson tied for 71st with a 242.
Casciano and Olson just completed their junior seasons this spring at Traverse City St. Francis and Suttons Bay, respectively.
The 144-player field was for kids ages 12-18. A field of 102 boys and 42 girls played in the 54-hole tournament.
Players from 20 states, Canada and Thailand competed in the tourney.
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