MYERS MEDALS WITH 3-UNDER-PAR AT MOON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
Salvo cards 2-under-par to take home medalist honors at Srixon Qualifier

PHOENIX — Jay Myers of San Jose, Calif., turned in 3-under-par 69 at the PING Phoenix Junior Srixon Qualifier to gain entry into the PING Phoenix Junior. In the Girls Division, Sarah Salvo of Glendale, Calif., took the medalist spot at 2-under-par 70 to solidify her entry into the PING Phoenix Junior.

The PING Phoenix Junior Srixon Qualifier, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, featured 77 boys and 21 girls ages 12-18 playing for admittance into the PING Phoenix Junior. The event was staged on the par-72 Moon Valley Country Club with boys tees set at 7,139 yards and girls tees at 6,230 yards.

SRIXON Sports USA, Inc. based in Lawrenceville, Ga., has been distributing premium golf balls and equipment in the U.S. since 1997 and is a subsidiary of SRI Sports Limited, SRI Sports Limited is the number golf club manufacturer in the world's second largest market, Japan, and is one of the world's leading patent holders in golf ball technology. SRIXON golf balls earned 26 tournament victories on multiple professional tours around the world in 2006.

After his first time playing at Moon Valley Country Club, Myers said his goal was to stay patient throughout the round to turn in a low score. After sinking a 15-foot putt for eagle on No.13, his patience paid off and he said he felt even more relaxed than when he first started Monday's round.

“The course was in great shape and the greens held up well in the heat,” Myers said. “My putting game really benefited from the consistency of the greens.”

Qualifiying for the PING Phoenix Junior were: Myers, Wayne Yoon of Carson Calif., Michael Weaver of Fresno, Calif., Trey Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz., Joe Webber of Sandy, Utah, Trent Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz., Brett Komoto of Honolulu, Samual Shin of Auckland, New Zealand, Kevin Lee of Cerritos, Calif., Jay Lim of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., and Jeff Petroff of Tualatin, Ore.

Alexander Forss of Temecula, Calif., Martin Salgado of San Luis, Calif., Kyohei Itamura of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Yuki Kato of Las Vegas qualified but opted to use the Tournament Exemption to improve their Performance Base Entry status.

In the Girls Division, Salvo said she didn't know what to expect of the course so she made it her goal to shoot even-par or better and not to let little mistakes get to her. Carding six birdies, Salvo said that the length of the course did not bother her play.

“I am excited to play in this week's event,” Salvo said. “This is my last AJGA Open Tournament this summer and I really hope to do well. As long as I stay in regulation this week, I feel I have a chance to win the tournament.”

Salvo, Esther Lee of Los Alamitos, Calif., Anna Jang of Aiea, Hawaii, Cherice Speckmeyer of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Alexandra Borcherts of Las Vegas all qualified and will play in this week's event.

Jordan Ontiveros of Alamo, Calif., also qualified and opted to use the Tournament Exemption to improve her Performance Base Entry status.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth an 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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.

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 Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

For more information about the PING Phoenix Junior Srixon Qualifier, please contact Tournament Director Jeremy Freyman at (678) 617-9917.