NEWTON TRIUMPHS IN VALERO TEXAS OPEN JUNIOR SHOOTOUT QUALIFIER
Rosen seals Girls Division carding 3-under-par 69 at The Dominion Country Club

SAN ANTONIO — Scott Newton of Carrollton, Texas, delivered his first competitive round under 70, a 3-under-par 69, to take the top spot in the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout Qualifier. Portland Rosen of Sugar Land, Texas, also shot 69 in the Girls Division to medal by a margin of nine shots.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout Qualifier was an 18-hole stroke play event held at The Dominion Country Club. The 100-player field featured players from eight states and Mexico. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,849 yards while the Girls Division played at 6,162 yards.

Newton was impressive on the greens Sunday, totaling only 27 putts. He carded five birdies on Nos. 1, 6, 8, 12 and 15, and was 2-under-par on par 3s. Newton medaled by a 2-stroke margin of victory. Putting was easily the best part of his game according to Newton.

“I did some real soul-searching after the qualifier at Southern Oaks,” Newton said. “I came out today the most nervous I've ever been in a round of golf and I shot my first competitive round in the 60's.”

Also qualifying in the Boys Division were Jimmy Elliott of Katy, Texas, David Klaudt of Dallas, James Sullivan of Katy, Texas, Kyle Lewis of Shawnee, Okla., Benjamin Carrier of McKinney, Texas, Jack Shores of Corpus Christi, Texas, Trey Cassity of Katy, Texas, Lee Brimberry of San Marcos, Texas and Eric Smith of Washington, Okla.

Zachary Collings of Fort Worth, Texas, qualified but opted to take an AJGA tournament exemption in lieu of playing in the tournament.

Rosen nearly missed the tournament, flying into San Antonio from Denver only hours before the scheduled starting time. She started the day with a birdie on her first hole without warming up on the putting green, then birdied Nos. 3, 10 and 14. Rosen made the most of tough situations today.

“My best hole by far was No. 16,” said Rosen. “I hit a bad drive behind a tree so I had to punch out. I was thinking just take a bogey and move on but I hit a great third shot and made a really long putt to save par.”

Qualifying in the Girls Division along with Rosen was Wallis Spears of Kerrville, Texas.

Chirstine Lin of Austin, Texas, qualified and opted to take an AJGA tournament expemption in lieu of playing in this week's tournament.

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 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, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

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.

The opening round of the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout will be Tuesday, July 8 with tee times running off the No. 1 tee from 7 a.m. — 12:51 p.m. For more information about the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (210) 687-1133.