DRAKE GOES LOW, SHOOTS 7-UNDER-PAR 63 TO EARN TOURNAMENT EXEMPTION
Mason controls Girls Division with an even-par 70 at Srixon Qualifier in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – It’s back to school time for the medalists at the Srixon Qualifer for the Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship. The duo of Michael Drake of Riverside, Calif., and Emily Mason of Highland, Calif., will be taking advantage of the American Junior Golf Association’s Opt Out Policy as they head home on Sunday to finish final exams later in the week.

The Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship Srixon Qualifier, conducted by the AJGA, featured 84 boys and 16 girls — ages 12-18 — wishing to “play their way in” to the Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship. The event was staged on the par-70, 6,332-yard Palm Course at Angel Park Golf Club (Girls Division played at 5,605 yards).

Drake shot the low round of the day with a 7-under-par 63. With a birdie on the 200-yard, par-3 No. 2 to start his day, the 17-year-old kept at the top of his game. His 3-under-par front nine included an eagle, three birdies and a double bogey.

“I was hitting fairways and making putts,” said Drake. “Everything was rolling and it was beautiful.”

Also qualifying in the Boys Division are Nick Delio of Valencia, Calif., Joel Dahmen of Clarkston, Wash., Andrew Augustyniak of Tempe, Ariz., Christopher K. Lee of Los Angeles, James Nagl of Colorado Springs, Colo., Peter Singh of Hollister, Calif., Jason Shano of Scotsdale, Ariz., Robbie Ziegler of Canby, Ore., Justin Spray of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Nicholas Mullhaupt of Bradenton, Fla.

In the Girls Division, Mason led the way with a one-stroke lead. The putter was the main weapon in the 16-year-old's bag.

“I was putting and making everything within four feet,” said Mason. “I only had one three-putt and thought, I'll take that.”

Also qualifying in the Girls Division are Rebecca Song of Fullerton, Calif., Jenny Shin of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Julia Heath of Arroyo Grande, Calif.

In addition to the participant's gaining entry into this week's event, Gregor Main of Danville, Calif., John Moon of Cerritos, Calif., Trevor James of Oak Park, Calif., David Zeuske of Coto de Caza, Calif., Jack Paton of Hillsborough, Calif., Richie Niu of Coto De Caza, Calif., earned a tournament exemption in lieu of playing in the Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship. In the Girls Division, Michelle Park of Los Angeles, Calif., Justine Chen of Lake Forest, Calif., and Natalie Draganza of Costa Mesa, Calif., also accepted the AJGA's Opt Out Policy.

SRIXON Sports USA, Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., has been distributing premium golf balls and equipment in the U.S. since 1997 and is a subsidiary of SRI Sports. SRI Sports is one of the world's leading patent holders in golf ball technology and manufactures several golf balls played in the United States. SRI Sports-made balls have won 73 PGA TOUR events since 1989, including seven majors. For more information about SRIXON, please visit www.srixon.com.

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, which enters its third decade of support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

For more information about the Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Championship, contact tournament headquarters at (702) 967-3213, or visit the AJGA Web site at ajga.org.