SCHUITEMA, MAGRUDER MEDALISTS AT AJGA ANDOVER OPEN
Three girls advance; sudden-death playoff determines top 10 boys
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Scott Schuitema of Muskegon, Mich., took top honors at the Srixon Qualifier Series of the AJGA Andover Open, while Jordan Magruder of Louisville, Ky., had the low score in the Girls Division with a 2-over-par 74.
The Srixon Qualifier Series, an 18-hole event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, was held at the Andover Golf & Country Club. Ninety-seven junior golfers — 79 boys and 18 girls — from 16 states competed in the event, including 35 from Kentucky.
Schuitema, who shot 36-35 — 71 for the round, said two of his four birdies were on par-3 holes.
“I usually don't make many birdies,” he said. “I putted well today.”
Schuitema and runner-up Evan Wood of Dublin, Ohio, chose to opt out in lieu of accepting a tournament exemption for their Performance Based Entry Status.
In the Boys Division, the top-10 qualifiers for the tournament are: Tanner Murphy of Columbus, Ohio, with a 36-37 — 73. Tied at 2-over-par 74 are Chase Wright of Muncie, Ind., Chase Williams of Columbus, Ohio, and Alex Wright of Lexington, Ky. Robert Newbold of Greenwood, Ind., Tom Wimsatt II of Union, Ky., and Clay Thornton of Lexington, Ky., qualified scoring 3-over-par 75s. Dustin Stovall of Scottsville, Ky., and Matt Crace of Beaver, Ohio, finished the day with a 4-over-par 76. Michael Kinkopf of Hilliard, Ohio, emerged from a three-person sudden-death playoff for the 10th spot in the qualifier field.
Magruder said she was hoping to qualify for her second Kentucky tournament in two weeks. Last week, she finished 14th at the AJGA's Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior in Ashland, Ky. She said staying focused and sinking a 30-foot-birdie putt on No. 15 helped boost her confidence as she enters tournament play at Andover.
“I hit my irons well,” she said. “I've been really practicing my swing — that helped a lot.”
She will be joined in the AJGA Andover Open by Laura Anderson of Tompkinsville, Ky., and Ashlee Rose of Nicholasville, Ky., who were tied for second place with 5-over-par 77s.
SRIXON Sports USA, Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., has been distributing premium golf balls and equipment in the U.S. since 1997 and is a subsidiary of SRI Sports. SRI Sports is one of the world's leading patent holders in golf ball technology and manufactures several golf balls played in the United States. SRI Sports-made balls have won 73 PGA TOUR events since 1989, including seven majors. For more information about SRIXON, please visit www.srixon.com.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Dottie Pepper, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Beth Bauer.
The first round of the AJGA Andover Open begins Tuesday, June 28 at 7 a.m. For more information on the AJGA Andover Open, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (859) 263-4335.
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