This year's Junior Champion is Kate Gallagher of Savannah, MO.  She is a junior at Savannah High School. Her first round 71 was matched again today in sunnier conditions to win over her best friend, Hanule Seo of Chesterfield, MO by five shots.  Kate made birdie on the ninth hole making the turn at even par, then managed a great birdie on the par three thirteenth to finish the back in one under for a two day total of 142.  Kate was presented a medalist pin as well as the large silver trophy.  The Sara Hulse Ideal Golfer Award was also presented to Kate for her sportsmanship, leadership and excellent demeanor on the golf course. 
     The youngest player in the field this year was ten year old Claire Hodges of Wildwood, MO, and plays out of Forest Hills Country Club.  She has been playing golf since age 3 and has become an accomplished junior.  Her parents listed her recent wins as the Optimist Qualifier in West Palm Beach, Florida as well as Callway Junior Worlds, Pepsi Little Peoples, Doral Publics, the Honda Junior Classic, and the Jekyll Island Cup.  She also placed second in the U.S.Kids World.  She is most proud of being made a member of the elite Tiger Woods Foundation National Junior Golf Team.  Claire is recovering from a small fracture injury, but seemed to be just fine bombing her drives down the middle of the fairway.  She hopes to one day attend Stanford University and play professional golf. 
     The Girls' Four State Team Championship will be held June 24-26th at Mission Hills Country Club in Shawnee Mission, KS. ( Missouri will compete against Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. ) Missouri has sent dominant teams to the event as they have won the title for the last four years. (Kate was a member of last year's Four State Team.) The Missouri Four State Team members for 2009 are:  Kate Gallagher (Savannah, MO), Hanule Seo (Chesterfield, MO), Celeste Gassman (Kansas City, MO), Rachel Thompson (Chesterfield, MO) and Morgan Lamberson (Marshall, MO).  Two alternates were also chosen - Sun Young Jung of Springfield, MO and Jordan Chael, of Lenexa, KS.