Martino Finishes On Top at Preseason Junior at Brookhaven
Wong and Haught co-medal in Girls Division at Brookhaven Country Club

DALLAS — Vincent Martino, 16, of Southlake, Texas, shot a 1-over-par 73 Sunday for a 144 tournament total to medal in the Boys Division at the Preseason Junior at Brookhaven. Alexandra Wong, 15, of San Francisco, tied for medalist honors with Haley Haught, 16, of Austin, Texas, at 14-over-par 158.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Preseason Junior at Brookhaven featured 95 boys and girls, ages 12-18, from 15 states, Canada and Ireland. The 36-hole stroke play event was held at the par-72 Brookhaven Country Club — Masters Course. The Boys Division played the course at 6,678 yards while the Girls Division played at 6,123 yards.

The Preseason Junior at Brookhaven is one of eight events held as part of the Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series. The Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series is a series designed specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet been accepted to or participated in an AJGA event in the current calendar year and/or the previous calendar year.

Martino entered the final round with a two-stroke lead and was able to rely on steady putting to claim the medalist honors. Three birdies on the back nine, including back-to-back on Nos. 15 and 16, helped him win his first AJGA event.

“I stayed focused today and played against par, not my opponents,” Martino said. “I hit my drive a little right on No. 15 and ended up under a tree. I hit it out and was able to make birdie. That really got me going.”

Landon Kowalski of Buffalo Grove, Ill., shot a final-round low 70 to finish second in the Boys Division at 2-over-par 146 for the tournament. Chapman Herwood of Tyler, Texas finished third at 3-over-par 147. Jamison Youree of Fort Worth, Texas, finished fourth at 4-over-par 148. Andrew Scamardo of College Station, Texas, and Zachary Zahn of Houston, tied for fifth at 6-over-par 150.

In the Girls Division, Wong drained 15-foot putts on Nos. 1, 10 and 18 to hold onto her lead from the first round. Appearing in her first AJGA event, Wong finished the round strong with five pars and one birdie on the back nine.

“I hung in there today and had a good time,” Wong said. “I drained a nice uphill 15-foot putt to save par on No. 10.”

Also medaling was Haught, who played the back nine 1-over-par. Beginning her round on No. 14, she stormed out to a strong start and was 1-under-par through her first three holes.

“It was the birdie on No. 16 that got me started,” Haught explained. “My third shot got me to about three feet so I was able to sink it for the birdie.”

One shot back was Betty Chen of Castro Valley, Calif., who finished third at 159.

GOLF ACADEMY OF AMERICA, with campuses located in San Diego, Phoenix, Orlando and Myrtle Beach, is the oldest and largest two-year golf career college in the world. GAA's 16-month program balances classroom studies, practical experience and comprehensive understanding of the business of golf. For more information, call 800-342-7342 or visit http://www.golfacademy.edu.

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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the Preseason Junior at Brookhaven, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.