Wingo on Top at 3-Under-Par at AJGA Junior at Kingsmill Resort & Spa

Mitsunaga, Alexander and Lendl co-lead in Girls Division

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Tyler Wingo of Fairfax, Va., made four birdies en route to carding a 3-under-par 68 to grab the lead in the Boys Division after the first round of the AJGA Junior at Kingsmill Resort & Spa. In the Girls Division, Rinko Mitsunaga of Rowell, Ga., Amira Alexander of Alpharetta, Ga., and Daniela Lendl of Vero Beach, Fla., are in a three-way tie for the lead after firing matching rounds of even-par 71.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Junior at Kingsmill Resort & Spa is a 54-hole stroke play event held at Kingsmill Resort & Spa – River Course. The field features 107 boys and 34 girls, ages 12-18, from 21 states, Canada and Italy. The par-71 course is playing at 6,814 yards in the Boys Division and 5,848 yards in the Girls Division.

Wingo set himself up for birdies on multiple occasions thanks to his strong iron play throughout the round.

“I hit my irons really well today,” Wingo said. “I was hitting a lot of shots in close proximity to the hole and that set me up for my birdies.”

Evan Russell of Essex Junction, Vt., is alone in second at 2-under-par 69. In a tie for third at 1-under-par 70 are: Sawyer Shaw of West Palm Beach, Fla., Joey Shroyer of Victoria, Minn., John Voetsch of New Vernon, N.J., Sean Elliott of Westfield, N.J., Jordan Sweet of Bowie, Md., and Brandon Knapp of Columbus, Ind.

In the Girls Division, Mitsunaga fought the wind throughout the round, but made enough putts to finish at even-par.

“I wasn’t really sure what club to hit some of the time because the wind was so strong,” Mitsunaga said. “I made a lot of five-foot putts for pars and a few for birdies and that really helped me.”

Alexander kept the momentum going with a great par save on the par-4 ninth hole.

“I hit my second shot into the hazard on No. 9,” Alexander said. “But I hit a good shot from there onto the green and was able to save par. That really kept me going.”

Lendl found herself at three-over par after double-bogeying No. 11 and bogeying No. 12, but birdied three of the last six holes to finish at even-par.

“I was playing really well through nine holes, but hit a couple bad tee shots on Nos. 11 and 12,” Lendl said. “I told myself to just make good swings after that and I did. I also made a couple of putts from about 20 feet for birdie on Nos. 15 and 18, so my putter really helped me out on the last few holes too.”

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 AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.
                Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.
                AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Second round tee times for the AJGA Junior at Kingsmill Resort & Spa will be from 7:30 – 9:09 a.m. & Noon - 1:39 p.m. off the Nos. 1 & 10 tees on the River Course. For more information, please contact Tournament Director Ryan Tahara at (678) 617 – 2427.