SAQUI TAKES TOP HONORS AT THE BRIDES GOLF CLUB
Nhim leads qualifier field for medalist honors

SAN RAMON, Calif. — Darren Saqui of Cerritos, Calif., came out firing in the Fidelity Investment Junior Open Srixon Qualifier after he carded a 2-under-par 70. Kristina Nhim of Buena Park, Calif., took home medalist honors in the Girls Division leading by two strokes.

The Srixion Qualifier Series for the Fidelity Investments Junior Open was an 18-hole shotgun qualifier presented by the American Junior Golf Association at The Bridges Golf Club, in San Ramon, Calif. The 100-qualifier field boasted 84 boys and 16 girls from nine states and Taiwan. Ten boys and four girls qualified for the three day tournament being held at Ruby Hill Golf Club.

Saqui had three birdies and 14 pars to lead the Boys Division by two strokes. Saqui said his putter is what made the difference at the difficult course.

“Mainly I just focused on hitting fairways and greens; then relied on my putter,” Suqui said. “Making a lot of putts really helped turn my score around today.”

Saqui decided to have a tournament exemption added to his Performance Based Entry status in lieu of playing in this week's tournament.

Nhim ended the day with two birdies and 13 pars en rout to medalist honors. Like Suqui, Nhim said the greens are where she got her game together.

“I wasn't hitting well today but my putting really helped me,” Nhim said. “I struggled to hit the greens, but my putting is what saved me.”

Nhim also decided to have a tournament exemption added to her Performance Based Entry status in lieu of playing in the Fidelity Investments Junior Open.

Also qualifying for the Fidelity Investments Junior Open in the Boys Division were Andrew Wood of Alameda, Calif., Dong Hui Kim of Bradenton, Fla., Weston Payne of Menlo Park, Calif., John Elsaesser of South Pasadena, Calif., Robert Garske of Santa Barbara, Calif., Alexander Schmitt of Tiburon Calif., Davis Kirkland of Woodland Hills, Calif., Brian Robinson of Pleasanton, Calif., Jeffrey Stevens of Del Mar, Calif., and Spencer Fletcher of Los Altos, Calif. In the Girls Division, Alexandra Stewart of Elk Grove, Calif., Chelsea Czinski of El Dorado Hills, Calif., Michelle Park of Los Angeles, and Hye Sol Kim of Gardena, Calif., will all be playing in the Fidelity Investments Junior Open.

Opting to take a tournament exemption in leau of playing in this weeks tournament were Grant Rappleye of Elk Grove, Calif., Paul McNamara III of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., Kurtis Kuida of Redondo Beach, Calif., K.C. Chang of Taipei, Taiwan, Jason Peters of Atascadero, Calif., Rak Cho of Torrance, Calif., Demi Francis Runas of Torrance, Calif., Robin Lee of Camarillo, Calif., and Veronica Valerio of Temecula, Calif.

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, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Paula Creamer.

First-round action of the Fidelity Investments Junior Open will begin Tuesday, August 15 with a 7 a.m. start off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees. For more information about the Fidelity Investments Junior Open, please call tournament headquarters at (925) 417-5850.