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MULIERI WINS SECOND SRIXON QUALIFIER
Kwak takes Girls Division by one stroke at Penn Oaks Golf Club
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Jay Mulieri of
Silver Spring, Md., claimed his second Srixon Qualifier Series medal of
the season at Penn Oaks Golf Club Sunday. Emily Kwak, also of Silver
Spring, took home medalist honors in the Girls Division and earned
entry into the CorseMax/Philadelphia Runner Junior with her 38-40-78
round.
The Srixon Qualifier was a par 71, 18-hole round, conducted by
the American Junior Golf Association on the Penn Oaks Golf Club. The
field included 99 players, including 84 boys and 15 girls, ages 12-18,
from 14 states. The top nine players from the Boys Division and the top
three players from the Girls Division qualified to play in the
CorseMax/Philadelphia Runner Junior July 29-August 3.
Mulieri, who began the shotgun round on par-3 No. 4, started off strong.
“I got off to a really good start,” Mulieri said. “I hit a 5-iron off the tee to five inches and made the putt for birdie.”
Mulieri continued to play well and carded three birdies throughout his even-par-71 round.
“On par-4 No. 16, I had a great drive and then hit a wedge to 10
feet,” Mulieri said. “I made a solid putt that took me to one-under
with five holes to go.”
Mulieri remained ahead of the field and won by one stroke.
Other qualifiers included Benjamin Lein of Diamond Bar, Calif.,
Jake Katz of Williamsville, N.Y., John Szmyd of Rye, N.H., Karl
Lindblad of Potomac, Md., Jordan Wycoff of Fort Washington, Pa., Bryan
Barach of Niskayuna, N.Y., Josh Sadler of Elizabethtown, Pa., and
Joseph Kim of Rockville, Md.
Tim Prey of Baltimore, Jason Frankel of Phoenix, Md., Doug
Kleeschulte of Kingston, N.Y., and Drew Baity of Greenwich, Conn., all
chose to take a tournament exemption in lieu of playing in this week's
event.
In the Girls Division, Kwak took advantage of the par-3s on the
back nine to build her lead and claim her first Srixon Qualifier medal
by one stroke.
“On No. 12, I hit an 8-iron over the green and then chunked my
second shot,” Kwak said, whose ball landed in front of her on the
fringe. “I was 20 feet from the hole and made the putt to save par.
Kwak hit her irons well all day, which gave her the opportunity for many par saves.
“I hit a 7-iron onto the green and tried to make the birdie putt
from 15 feet, but it sloped down the hill to the other side of the
green,” Kwak said. “It went 10 feet past the hole, but I saved par by
making the putt.”
Other qualifiers in the Girls Division included Kelly Shon of
Port Washington, N.Y., Stani Schiavone of Bangor, Pa. and Brooke
Stepanek of Guilford, Conn.
Sara Jackson of Sound Beach, N.Y., and Lauren Varnas of
Chatham, N.J., chose to take a tournament exemption in lieu of playing
in this week's event.
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. 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, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung
and Paula Creamer. The first round of the CorseMax/Philadelphia Runner Junior
will be August 1 at French Creek Golf Club with tee times starting at 7
a.m. off of the No. 1 tee. For more information about the
CorseMax/Philadelphia Runner Junior please contact Tournament Director
Greg Smith at (678) 315-3446.
#AJGA#
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