FOX BREAKS PAR, EARNS MEDALIST HONORS AT RANDY WISE JUNIOR OPEN QUALIFIER
Sitompul on top of Girls Division at Spring Meadows Country Club

LINDEN, Mich. — Sean Fox of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., was the only player to break par Sunday at the AJGA Qualifier Series for the Randy Wise Junior Open when he recorded a 1-under-par 71. In the Girls Division, Caramia Sitompul of Bradenton, Fla., earned medalist honors by carding a 2-over-par 74.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Randy Wise Junior Open Qualifier was an 18-hole stroke play event held at Spring Meadows Country Club. The 95-player field features players from 12 states and Canada. The Boys Division was played at 6,918 yards, while the Girls Division was played at 6,168.

Fox, a rising senior, had a tumultuous beginning to his round, finding himself 3-over-par after three holes. After opting to play with less club and a more full swing, Fox found his groove and birdied his fourth hole. That was just the beginning, as his back nine saw three birdies to one bogey, as well as an eagle on the par-5 No. 15.

“I hit my driver to about 210 yards, then a 4-iron to about 8 feet and sank my putt,” Fox said. “I was putting really well today.”

Also qualifying for the Randy Wise Junior Open Boys Division field were David Smith of Plymouth, Mich., Stephen Marbach of Naperville, Mich., John Callahan of Hinsdale, Ill., Michael Witmer of Brecksville, Ohio, Jordan Fletcher of Portage, Mich., Nick Dennis of Waterford, Mich., and Francesco Ruffino of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Qualifying via sudden-death play-off were Stephen LaRouere of Northville, Mich., and Casey Olsen of Okemos, Mich.

Qualifying, but opting to take a tournament exemption in lieu of playing in the tournament were John Weyenberg of Menasha, Wis., Andrew Dorn of West Chester, Ohio, Sean Van Aken of Monroe, Mich., Austin Romeo of Erie, Pa., and Bailey Truesdell of Grand Blanc, Mich.

Sitompul began the day in a consistent fashion, recording an even-par 36 through her front nine, only trading birdie for bogey once. The back nine proved to be more of a challenge for the 16-year-old, as she carded a 2-over-par 38, but maintained enough to walk away with top honors.

“I was driving the ball decent and my putting was really good,” Sitompul said. “This course is set up really well for me and the greens are just the right speed, so everything feels good for me.”

Joining Sitompul in qualifying for the Randy Wise Junior Classic are Jaqueline Setas of East Lansing, Mich., Carey Farley of Grosse Point, Mich., and Kelsy Robinson of Attica, Mich.

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 49 states and 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.

First-round tee times for the Randy Wise Junior Open will run from 7 — 11:57 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at the Spring Meadows Country Club. For more information, please contact Tournament Director Jonah Beck at (810) 735-4363.