FOUR PLAYERS SHARE MEDALIST HONORS IN ROME QUALIFIER
Yi's 73 earns medalist in Girls Division

BRASELTON, Ga. — Austyn Karle of Scottsdale, Michael West of Huntersville, N.C., Jeff Rives of Roswell, Ga., and William Angel of Hoover, Ala., all carded 2-under-par 69s to earn medalist honors at the Srixon Qualifier for the Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic. In the Girls Division, Vicki Yi of Bogart, Ga., notched three birdies on her way to a 2-over-par 73 and medalist honors.

The Srixon Qualifier Series, an 18-hole event conducted by the AJGA, was held at Chateau Elan Resort — Chateau Course, Saturday. Ninety-seven junior golfers — 84 boys and 13 girls — competed in the event.

Karle, who carded a double-bogey on the first hole, was able to overcome a slow start on his way to earning a 69. He credited his putter for keeping him consistent and allowing him to rebound from his early troubles.

“I was fortunate that my putter got hot, and I was able to get on a roll,” Karle said.

West, much like Karle, was able to overcome a difficult start and ride a hot putter through his back nine.

“I bogeyed two of the first three holes,” West said. “Coming in, I made everything in sight,” he added.

Both Angel and Rives credited their consistent play as the main factor for their low scores. Rives, playing in his second Srixon Qualifier, overcame the rainy conditions and was able to get up-and-down when needed.

“I didn't hit a bad shot on the back side,” Rives said. “I made some good saves in the rain and that is what kept me in it.”

Angel believed he could have played better, but was still very happy with the medalist position he earned.

“I bogeyed my final hole,” Angel said. “I could have done better, but overall it was a solid round.”

Also qualifying in the Boys Division were Brandon Bradosky of Anderson, S.C., Rob Barrow of Cary, N.C., Sam Ransom of Atlanta, John Hopper of Roswell, Ga., Phillip Weaver of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Timothy Kim of Rome, Ga., Alexander Coughlin of White Pine, Tenn., and William Spitler of Sarasota, Fla. Qualifying via a sudden-death playoff were Andrew Salzberg of Sarasota, Fla., Chung Lee of Suwanee, Ga., and Alex Boyd of Augusta, Ga.

In lieu of playing in this week's event West, Bradosky, Barrow and Kim have chosen to take their Tournament Exemption and have it added to their Performance Based Entry Status.

Yi, who has verbally committed to attend the University of Georgia, carded a 73 on a course she is quite familiar with. Yi's round included three birdies and she felt that her ability to “keep it together” was the reason for her solid round.

“I've played this course several times before,” Yi said. “I wouldn't say that I'm completely comfortable with it, but it was helpful to play on a course that I am familiar with.”

Also qualifying in the Girls Division were Zaikiya Randall of Atlanta, Morgan McQuary of Spring Hill, Tenn., Carrie Metz of Buford, Ga., Megan Smith of Atlanta, Arliss Hoy of San Antonio, Jessica Fleming of Enid, Okla., and Nina Yoo of Duluth, Ga.

In lieu of playing in this week's event McQuary, Metz and Smith will all be taking a Tournament Exemption to be added onto their Performance Based Entry Status.

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 AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, 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, Dottie Pepper, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Beth Bauer.

First round tee times for the Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic begin at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2 at the Coosa Country Club. For more information, call Tournament Director Jonah Beck at (678) 617-2425.