KREMBEL STAYS SOLID TO EARN MEDALIST HONORS
Exciting finish produces two medalists in the Girls Division

OPELIKA, Ala. — Hailing from Shalimar, Fla., Matthew Krembel shot a final-round 74 to lead him to a two-shot victory over first-round co-leader Jeffrey Osborne of Dallas. The Girls Division was too close to crown one winner, as Jessy Tang of Orlando, Fla., and Mitsuki Katahira of Hilton Head Island, S.C., shared medalist honors with two-day tournament totals of 149.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Medicus Preseason Junior at RTJ Grand National was held at RTJ Grand National Golf Course in Opelika, Ala. Part of the Medicus Preseason/Postseason Junior Series, the tournament was a 36-hole stroke play event and consisted of 48 boys and 36 girls, ages 12-18, from 21 states and Canada. The par-72 golf course played at 6,869 yards for the boys and 5,817 yards for the girls.

Aided by a great save from the fairway bunker on No. 18, Krembel found himself atop the leaderboard. Krembel birdied the par-3, Nos. 3 and 15 to fuel his performance throughout the final round.

“When I hit that shot out of the bunker on No. 18, I thought I was only up by one,” said Krembel. “It turned out that I was up by two.”

Osborne's final round mix of birdies and bogeys eventually took him out of contention. His 5-over-par 77 brought his tournament total to 7-over-par 151.

Rounding out the top five in the Boys Division were Chris Burke of Jacksonville, Fla., and Bryce McCarthy of Fort Worth, Texas, tied for third with tournament totals of 154. Shay Womack, Jr. of Marietta, Ga., finished alone in fifth with a 156.

Katahira and Tang battled to the finish to share medalist honors. The roller coaster day made for an exciting final round as the two traded shots all day. Both girls finished the event with 5-over-par 149s.

“As a whole, I'm glad I came,” said Katahira. “I plan to visit my home in Japan during the summer and play more when I come back.”

Tang was just as excited about her first AJGA experience.

“This is my first AJGA tournament,” said Tang. “It's exciting. I've never won before, especially not a prestigious tournament like this.”

Rounding out the top three in the Girls Division was Hannah Weathersby of Belvidere, Tenn., with a tournament total of 151.

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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

The Medicus Preseason/Postseason Series is designed for new AJGA members or members who have yet to play in an AJGA event. The series provides an opportunity for members to gain status in Performance Based Entry, which in turn will increase their ability to play in future AJGA events.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of support, 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 in 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, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information on the Medicus Preseason Junior at RTJ Grand National, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.