LESSING'S AJGA CLASSIC
New York Country Club
New Hempstead, New York
August 13 - 16, 2001

ATKINSON TACKLES GREENS AT NEW YORK COUNTRY CLUB TO TOP LEADERBOARD AT LESSING'S AJGA CLASSIC
Grzebien looks for consecutive New York victories with 3-shot lead in the Girls Division

NEW HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.-David Atkinson of Elicott City, Md., putted his way to an opening round score of 3-under-par 69 to jump into the lead at the Lessing's AJGA Classic at New York Country Club. Anna Grzebien of Saunderstown, R.I., raced to a 3-shot lead in the Girls Division after carding a 2-over-par 74.

The 54-hole tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 99 of the nation's top junior golfers, ages 13-18 representing 14 states and Canada. Five Polo Golf Junior All-Americans and 35 golfers from the state of New York are included in the field.

"Every putt I looked at went in," said Atkinson, who will be a Freshman at Loyola University this fall. "Every mistake I made today I was able to counteract. If I keep sinking 6-and-7 footers I should do well the rest of the week."

Matt King of Plattsburg, N.Y., is one stroke behind the leader after posting a bogey-free round of 2-under-par 70 to sit in second place in the Boys Division.
"I hit the ball well, but I didn't convert the 10-12 footers," said King, who hit 15 greens today. "I need to just keep swinging and convert more of my birdie putts."

Brian McArdle of Huntington, N.Y., and Marco Poccia of Gansevoort, N.Y., are tied for third three-stokes back of the lead. The Empire State natives each carded rounds of even-par 72. Timothy Seeley of Lake George, N.Y., John Fizer of Trenton, N.J., and Brad Tilley of Chappaqua, N.Y., are tied for fifth at 1-over-par 73.

In the Girls Division, Anna Grzebien is looking to claim back-to-back New York AJGA victories after carding a first-round score of 2-over-par 74. Grzebien took home the trophy at last week's AJGA Marsh Junior at Bethpage State Park and plans to employ a hole-by-hole strategy in hopes for a consecutive victory.

"There are some birdie holes on this course where if you try to place your shots on the greens, you can score pretty low," the 16-year-old Grzebien said. "The greens are really tough with so many tiers and little hills. If you want to get an easy two-putt, you can't just put in on the green, you have to get it close to the hole.

17-year-old Jackie Beers of Midlothian, Va., who has not finished out of the top five in the five AJGA events she has competed in this year, sits three strokes back of the lead after shooting a 5-over-par 77. Ashley Grier of Hagerstown, Md., and Monique Gesualdi of St. Augustine, Fla., are tied for third at 6-over-par 78.

Second-round action gets underway Wednesday at New York Country Club with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. For more information on the Lessing's AJGA Classic contact tournament headquarters at (888) 740-6800, ext. 102.

#AJGA#

NEW HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- First-round results from the LESSING'S AJGA CLASSIC conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at New York Country Club. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,641 Girls: 5,742

BOYS DIVISION

David Atkinson (2001) Ellicott City, Md.* 33-36--69
Matt King (2002) Plattsburgh, N.Y.* 34-36--70
Brian McArdle (2002) Huntington, N.Y.* 34-38--72
Marco Poccia (2002) Gansevoort, N.Y.* 36-36--72
Timothy Seeley (2002) Lake George, N.Y.* 36-37--73
John Fizer (2001) Trenton, N.J.* 35-38--73
Brad Tilley (2002) Chappaqua, N.Y.* 39-34--73
Eamonn McLoughlin (2002) Amityville, N.Y.* 40-34--74
Hoyt McGarity (2002) Sagaponack, N.Y.* 38-36--74
Garett Engel (2002) East Rockaway, N.Y.* 38-36--74
Ryan Jeun (2001) Laurel, Md.* 37-37--74
Seiji Hirai (2003) Hagerstown, Md.* 36-38--74
Steve Alminas (2002) East Longmeadow, Mass.* 40-34--74
Brian Scott (2003) Crofton, Md.* 38-37--75
Brad Ernske (2004) Mahwah, N.J.* 38-37--75
Dennis Gosier (2002) Ganesevoort, N.Y.* 39-36--75
Adam Cohan (2004) Wayne, Pa.* 39-36--75
Blake Wray (2002) Ithaca, N.Y.* 39-36--75
Adam Resmini (2001) Barrington, R.I.* 34-41--75
Justin Jarvis (2002) Baltimore, Md.* 38-39--77
Andrew Turner (2002) Lititz, Pa.* 38-39--77
Michael Kosup (2002) Flemington, N.J.* 35-42--77
Brian Krulfeifer (2003) Monsey, N.Y.* 39-39--78
Doug Saidenberg (2003) New York, N.Y.* 41-37--78
Devin Drobbin (2002) Holmdel, N.J.* 38-40--78
Tyler Randol (2002) Lawrence, N.Y.* 38-40--78
Jason Paul (2002) Patchogue, N.Y.* 38-40--78
David Larado (2002) Sayville, N.Y.* 40-39--79
Andrew Sliwa (2002) Owego, N.Y.* 39-40--79
Michael Ciccarelli (2001) Commack, N.Y.* 39-40--79
Dave Patronik (2002) Orchard Park, N.Y.* 38-41--79
Patrick Nakahara (2002) Westport, Conn.* 39-40--79
Raman Luthra (2002) East Amherst, N.Y.* 42-37--79
Tarik Can (2004) New York, N.Y.* 40-39--79
Charles Kerecz (2002) Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.* 42-37--79
Josh Weber (2002) Kitchener, Ontario* 41-38--79
Daniel Barrett (2002) Lisbon, Conn.* 37-42--79
Todd Brown (2003) Fogelsville, Pa.* 39-41--80
Skip Clasper (2003) Gaithersburg, Md.* 39-41--80
Brian Belden (2006) Emmaus, Pa.* 39-41--80
Derek Hurwitch (2002) Longmeadow, Mass.* 39-41--80
David St. Clair (2002) Waban, Mass.* 37-43--80
D.J. Hynes (2001) Wellesley Hills, Mass.* 41-39--80
Dean Gultula (2002) Haskell, N.J.* 39-41--80
Dan Gabel (2002) Poughkeepsie, N.Y.* 39-41--80
Ryan Stewart (2002) Merrick, N.Y.* 41-39--80
Bobby Bennett (2003) Wilmette, Ill.* 39-42--81
Gary Barton (2001) Staten Island, N.Y.* 42-39--81
Brandon Mourges (2002) Phoenix, Md.* 43-38--81
Justin Sharaf (2001) Danvers, Mass.* 41-40--81
Rick Reissman (2002) Suffern, N.Y.* 44-37--81
Andrew Burke (2002) Rochester, N.Y.* 39-42--81
Andrew Rice (2002) Monkton, Md.* 41-40--81
Sean Pollack (2003) Woodcliff Lake, N.J.* 42-40--82
Adam Kaminski (2001) Commack, N.Y.* 42-40--82
Jimmy Crandall (2003) Chatham, N.J.* 41-41--82
Tyler Whitney (2002) Hanover, N.H.* 39-43--82
Van Espiritu (2005) Nutley, N.J.* 39-43--82
Robert Chen (2001) Orangeburg, S.C.* 42-40--82
Todd Czepiel (2002) Boonville, N.Y.* 42-41--83
William Sirignano (2002) Waccabuc, N.Y.* 45-38--83
Doug Lesko (2002) Flemington, N.J.* 42-41--83
Ross Feldman (2003) Woodcliff Lake, N.J.* 40-43--83
Anthony Italiano (2001) Toronto, Ontario* 40-44--84
Daniel Diggs (2001) Danbury, Conn.* 40-44--84
Edward Schloth (2003) Royersford, Pa.* 40-45--85
Daniel Misko (2003) Grand Island, N.Y.* 44-41--85
Daniel Day (2002) Cheshire, Conn.* 42-43--85
Cliff Ryan (2001) Plandome, N.Y.* 42-43--85
Drew Anders (2002) Mont. Laurel, N.J.* 44-41--85
Andrew Resmini (2004) Barrington, R.I.* 45-41--86
Josh Williamowsky (2002) Rockville, Md.* 42-44--86
McLean Shanley (2002) Saratoga Springs, N.Y.* 46-41--87
Tim Hamm (2001) Schenectady, N.Y.* 42-45--87
Thomas Halsted (2002) Windsor, Conn.* 45-42--87
Pat Ferris (2002) Simsbury, Conn.* 45-43--88
Scott Johnson (2002) West Newton, Mass.* 42-47--89
Tim Daily (2002) Old Bridge, N.J.* 45-45--90
Matthew Considine (2003) Akron, Ohio* 43-47--90
Peter Cheviot (2003) Sayville, N.Y.* 43-48--91
Adam Sureau (2001) Stow, Mass.* 49-45--94

GIRLS DIVISION

Anna Grzebien (2003) Saunderstown, R.I.* 37-37--74
Jackie Beers (2002) Midlothian, Va.* 39-38--77
Ashley Grier (2002) Hagerstown, Md.* 41-37--78
Monique Gesualdi (2003) St. Augustine, Fla.* 39-39--78
Kathryn O'Rourke (2003) Holmes, N.Y.* 39-40--79
Kristen White (2001) Doylestown, Pa.* 37-42--79
Liz Friel (2002) Hollis, N.H.* 40-39--79
Whitney Myers (2004) East Berlin, Pa.* 40-41--81
Kelly Robb (2003) Concord, Mass.* 40-41--81
Caleigh Philo (2002) Vero Beach, Fla.* 42-40--82
Jacquelyn Nemcik (2003) College Station, Texas* 44-38--82
Beth Marushak (2002) Northampton, Pa.* 38-44--82
Dayna Burleigh (2002) Horsham, Pa.* 40-43--83
Jill Blanchard (2002) North Dartmouth, Mass.* 39-45--84
Katrin Wolfe (2002) Johnstown, Pa.* 46-38--84
Mary Ellen Grzebien (2001) Saunderstown, R.I.* 42-43--85
Jeannine Mondesando (2002) Mahwah, N.J.* 47-39--86
Alysse Sweeney (2002) Wayne, N.J.* 47-43--90
Lauren Ritter (2002) Watchung, N.J.* 45-46--91
Lauren Braswell (2003) Basking Ridge, N.J.* WD (Injury)
Jessica Shapiro (2002) Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.* WD (Illness)