Newsmakers: February 11, 2008

Junior Round-up

Sydnee Michaels

Jane Rah of Torrance, Calif., earned a spot into the LPGA’s Safeway International after holing out a 40-foot chip shot on the first playoff hole against Arizona State sophomore Jiliana Murcia Ortiz at the Safeway International Amateur Open.

Rah, No. 5 in the Polo Golf Rankings, shot a 4-under-par 68 at Superstition Mountain’s Prospector Course, where the event will be played March 27-30. Ortiz and former AJGA Rolex Junior All-American Sydnee Michaels, who finished the Safeway International Amateur Open in third, both earned their way into the Safeway International Monday qualifier.

College Round-up

Jesper Kennegard

Men’s college golf wrapped up two events last week and left many AJGA alumni with top honors in their hands.

The UH-Hilo Invitational was played Feb. 6-8 at Waikoloa Village Golf Club. Stanford took home the top team honors led by Rob Grube and Sihwan Kim who finished tied for second at 11-under-par. Taking home top individual honors was Arizona State University’s Jesper Kennegard. Kennegard’s 68-63-66 – 197 tournament total was two shots ahead of Grube and Kim.

Cameron Tringale of Georgia Tech finished fourth at 10-under-par. Rounding out the top five were USC teammates Jamie Lovemark and Rory Hie who finished at 9-under-par and tied with Washington’s Nick Taylor.

The SunTrust Gator Invitational was held Feb. 9-10 at Mark Bostick Golf Club at the University of Florida. Home team Florida came earned team honors finishing 12 shots ahead of the field.

Michael Schachner of Duke and Zach Sucher of the University of Alabama – Birmingham tied for first at 7-under-par 203 for the tournament. Florida’s Tyson Alexander took home third place with a 6-under-par 204 tournament total. Rounding out the top five were Florida’s Billy Horschel and LSU’s Andrew Loupe who tied for fourth finishing two strokes back of the champions.