Staff report

KANNAPOLIS — Salisbury’s Michael Childress finished in a tie for 14h place as the Izod AJGA Championship at The Club at Irish Creek concluded on Thursday.

Childress, a rising junior at Cannon School, had back-to-back 72s on Tuesday and Wednesday and turned in a 2-over 73 yesterday for a tournament total of 217. That score put Childress into a seven-way tie for 14th.

The event, which includes a field of 63 outstanding junior golfers from around the region and country, was won by 14-year-old Akshay Bhatia of Wake Forest, N.C. Bhatia a rising high school freshman, fired three rounds of under-par golf. Bhatia’s scores were 67-69-67, for a 10-under par 203.

Mason Elmore, of Charlotte, finished second to Bhatia with a 70-68-69 (207).

Parker Chavis, a rising senior at South Rowan High School, followed his bogey-free 69 on Wednesday with a 76 yesterday and finished 59th. Chavis, of China Grove, had a tournament total of 228.

Concord’s Stephen Carroll tied for 54th place after scores of 73-78-76 (227).

An even younger golfer won the girls’ side of the Izod AJGA Championship. Xin (Cindy) Kou, just 13 years old, shot 69-69-71 (209) to win by six strokes over Madison Moosa of Charlotte (76-69-70,215).

Emily Hawkins, of Lexington, finished in a tie for 15th place with scores of 74-79-74 (227).