ASHWORTH JUNIOR AT NORMAN

Belmar Golf Club

Norman, Oklahoma

October 8 - 10, 2004

INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELS FINAL ROUND IN NORMAN

Croonquist and Stensrud share medalist honors in Boys Division

NORMAN, Okla. – The final round of the Ashworth Junior at Norman was cancelled due to inclement weather, giving Hunter Stensrud of Dallas and Peter Croonquist of Lakeland, Minn., the medalist honors. Amber Hensley of Tulsa, Okla., was awarded the medalist honor in the Girls Division. 

The Ashworth Junior at Norman was a 36-hole tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Okla. The tournament featured 91 of the nation’s premier junior golfers, ages 12-18, from 21 states and three countries, including 10 from Oklahoma.

The start of the final round was delayed an hour due to heavy rain. Players were only able to complete approximately five holes before more inclement weather forced the committee to cancel the entire final round. First-round results were used to determine the medalists in each division.

Stensrud and Croonquist shot matching 69s in the first round, leaving them atop the Boys Division leaderboard. Both players were pleased with their play during the first day and each was happy to accept the first-place honors.

“This was an important event for me,” Stensrud said. “I was able to gain some confidence playing outside my home state, and I hope to continue to prove myself next year.”

Croonquist shared similar feelings about claiming the title in Norman.

“It would have been great to play the final round, but I am happy with the results,” he said. “I played well yesterday and this will be something I will remember for a long time.”

Sean Maekawa of Pa’auilo, Hawaii, Jordan Burleson of Edmond, Okla., Marc Sambol of Dallas, and Tai Reynolds of Victoria, British Columbia rounded out the top five in the Boys Division.

Hensley, who shot an opening-round 4-over-par, did not allow the wet conditions to dampen her excitement.

“This is really exciting,” she said. “I don’t have much experience in larger events and this was a good place to gain some experience. I am definitely looking forward to playing in more tournaments and hopefully earning similar results.”

Lydia Benitez of Dorado, Puerto Rico and Hannah Lavy of Fayetteville, Ark., shot matching first rounds of 77 to finish in a tie for second.

The Ashworth Junior series was created specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series event in the current calendar year and/or the previous calendar year. Juniors ages 12-18 are eligible for entry into these events. For those who are eligible, participation is limited to one Preseason event and one Postseason event per calendar year as long as they have not yet participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series event.

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 a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 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, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

           
For more information about the Ashworth Junior at Norman, please contact national headquarters at (770) 868-4200.