Jason Redmond / Star staff Justin Edwards of Westlake Village hits from the first fairway during the final round of the AJGA Hanmi Bank Junior Open on Thursday.

SANTA CLARITA — As a soon-to-be senior at Westlake High, Justin Edwards knows this is a big summer if he hopes to play college golf a year from now.

Edwards, 17, has been sending out e-mails to college golf coaches with the hope of getting some of them to take a look at him as a possible recruit.

While he's had just a few responses so far, that figures to change after Edwards' strong showing during the last three days at the American Junior Golf Association's Hanmi Bank Junior Open at Robinson Ranch Golf Club.

Edwards finished the event in a tie for sixth at even-par 216, his strongest tournament finish. It was highlighted by a 3-under 69 in Wednesday's second round that left him tied for fourth heading into Thursday's final round.

Mario Clemens from Beverly Hills High won the tournament at 5-under 211, while John Young Kim of Los Alamitos was one shot back at 212. Valencia resident Alison Lee, who is only in eighth grade, won the Girls' Division at 8 under.

Playing in the second to last group of the day, Edwards knew he needed something under par if he hoped to win the tournament. However, he carded a 2-over 74.

"I figured if I shot 68 I would have a chance," Edwards said. "It's tough out there. I had some chances, but overall I am really pleased. It's my best tournament finish. I am really pleased about that.

"And it will really help me with college, because instead of me having to contact colleges now they will contact me. That is what it is all about."

While this was his best finish in a tournament, Edwards said he kind of saw his strong performance coming. In the last round of an AJGA event he played in Las Vegas last month, Edwards fired a final-round 71. Since that time he has been shooting some low numbers.

"I feel good about my game," Edwards said. "I wish I made a few more putts because that separates the really good players from the good players."

Edwards' short game helped him stay in contention, as he made several good up-and-downs over the last nine holes. None was more impressive than the one he made on the par-4 13th where he broke his 9-iron while hitting his approach shot, but still managed to save par from behind the green.

While he is playing a lot this summer, Edwards has no fear he will burn out.

"I love the game too much for that to happen," Edwards said.

Westlake teammate Marshall Colby wasn't as consistent as Edwards this week, but on Thursday he turned in the round of the tournament, firing a 6-under 66 to win the Scotty Cameron Award, given to the player with the low score in the final round.

After an unlucky bogey on the second hole, where his ball settled against a lip in a fairway bunker, Colby was lights out — making six straight birdies and seven overall. The most dramatic one came on the par-4 11th, where he holed a 15-foot putt from just off the fringe, a putt Colby estimated broke at least 6 feet.

"It's probably the best round I have ever played," Colby said. "I have never had six birdies in a row."

It was a bittersweet performance for Colby, who might have had a chance to compete for the tournament title had it not been for a few bad holes in the first two rounds. The worst was a quadruple-bogey nine on the par-5 18th to end Wednesday's second round. At the time he was 1 under for the day.

"I was really upset after the first two days," Colby said. "I have been hitting the ball really well, but I just had a few bad holes that really cost me."

Edwards and Colby were two of 11 golfers from Ventura County who took part in the tournament. Simi Valley's Chris Gilbert, who recently qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur, finished off a frustrating tournament with a solid round of 1-over 73, leaving him with a three-round total of 10-over 226.