ELVERMAN WINS MEDALIST HONORS IN SRIXON QUALIFER WITH 1-UNDER-PAR 70
Yang earns medalist honors in first AJGA event at The Legend at Brandybrook

WALES, Wis. —  Matthew Elverman of Genoa City, Wis., earned medalist honors in the Boys Division at the Srixon Qualifier for the Future Legends Monday after shooting 1-under-par 70 at The Legend at Brandybrook. Julie Yang of Phoenix carded a 4-over-par 75 to win medalist honors at her first AJGA event in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Future Legends Srixon Qualifier was an 18-hole shotgun event held at The Legend at Brandybrook. The tournament field consisted of 89 players, 78 boys and 11 girls from 16 states. The Boys Division played the course at 6,836 yards, while the Girls Division was played at 5,983 yards.

Elverman said he hasn't had this much fun playing golf in a long time. It showed as Elverman made a 35-foot par-saving putt on his third hole, No. 18. Elverman then went out in style on the par 5 15th, recording an eagle by holing out from 108 yards with a pitching wedge.

“I knew my ball was in good shape, but I didn't know it went in until I started walking up and everyone around the green was going crazy,” Elverman said. “I putted really well today and I've been struggling with that. My ball striking was really good, but the putting was the icing on the cake,” Elverman said.

Ryan Penfield of Edmond, Okla., carded 1-over-par 72 to finish second in the Boys Division. Eric Schuh of Kaukauna, Wis., Jacob Lammert of Hartland, Wis., Daniel Ellis of Negaunee, Mich., and David Lawrence of Moline, Ill., tied for third place at 3-over-par 74.

Schuh, Michael Cheng of Woodbury, N.Y., and Dane Worley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa opted to take one AJGA tournament exemption in lieu of playing in this week's event. Also qualifying for the Future Legends were Richard Lamb of South Bend, Ind., Alex Lavin of Highland Park, Ill., Jared Canfield of Naperville, Ill., and Brett Tomfohrde of Hinsdale, Ill.

In the Girls Division, Yang, who turned 12-years-old Sunday, always wanted to play in an AJGA event but couldn't because of her age. After a remarkable round, even Yang herself was amazed at what she accomplished, carding ten pars and two birdies. Yang gives credit to her parents and her family for the support they provide her with to succeed. She said she felt she played well today and only had one silly mistake with a double-bogey on No. 14. Yang looks forward to participating in the Future Legends tournament.

“I have a goal to make a record that can't be broken,” Yang said. “I want to win an AJGA open event at the age of 12. You have to set high goals to succeed at high levels, and I just am going to have fun achieving my goal.”

In the Girls Division, Ember Schuldt of Sterling Ill., finished second at 8-over-par 79. Ashley Armstrong of Flossmoor, Ill., finished third after carding a 9-over-par 80 in the qualifier.

Schuldt opted to take one AJGA tournament exemption in lieu of playing in this week's event. Also qualifying in the Girls Division for Future Legends were Alice Kang of San Diego, and Claire Costello of Wilmette, Ill.

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 largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 countries.

SRIXON Sports USA, Inc., based in Lawrenceville, Ga., has been distributing premium golf balls and equipment in the U.S. since 1997 and is a subsidiary of SRI Sports Limited. SRI Sports Limited is the number one golf club manufacturer in the world's second largest market, Japan, and is one of the world's leading patent holders in golf ball technology. SRIXON golf balls earned 26 tournament victories on multiple professional tours around the world in 2006.

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 Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

First-round tee times will begin at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday off the No. 1 tee at The Legend at Brandybrook. For more information about Future Legends, please contact tournament headquarters at (262) 968-9717 ext. 211.