MCDONALD AND JUILLERAT FIRE 1-OVER-PAR 72 TO MEDAL AT THE FIDELITY INVESTMENTS STARS OF TEXAS JUNIOR SRIXON QUALIFIER
Tallman medals in the Girls Division, shooting 4-over-par 75, to lead by five strokes

AUSTIN, Texas — Despite an hour-long weather delay, two Texas natives, Shane McDonald of Mansfield, and Jeffrey Juillerat of Tyler, fired 1-over-par 72 to qualify for the tournament on Wednesday. In the Girls Division, Brittany Tallman of Issaquah, Wash., earned medalist honors after hitting 13 fairways en route to a five-stroke lead over Mei Liu of Austin.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Fidelity Investments Stars of Texas Junior Srixon Qualifier was held at The University of Texas Golf Club. The par-71 course was set up at 6,819 yards for the Boys Division and 5,923 yards for the Girls Division. The tournament field consisted of 80 boys and 16 girls, ages 12-18, representing 5 states and Mexico, including 90 Texas residents.

Juillerat chose not to play in the tournament, and instead took a tournament exemption. He said that playing in the qualifier was a good experience and he is proud of his performance.

“The course was playing really hard today, but I think I played really well,” said Juillerat. “This was probably my best of the summer and overall I'm glad I did well.”

McDonald, on the other hand, chose to play in the upcoming tournament after tying for the low score of the day. Although he did not hit as many fairways as he would have liked, McDonald putted well, which helped balance out the overall scoring outcome at the end of the day. McDonald is excited to have medaled, especially after recently changing an important part of his game.

“I feel good after the round today,” said McDonald. “I've gone through a lot of swing changes lately, but today I finally felt that I was ready and there.”

Fifteen additional boys qualified for the tournament. Shooting scores of 2-over-par 73, three boys, Bobby Briskie of Dallas, Mitchell Cahill of Houston, and Garrett Mann of Helotes, Texas, shared the third-place position. Two additional Texans, Michael Rodriguez of Richmond, and Kyle Robbins of Southlake, shot scores of 3-over-par 74 and finished tied for seventh place. Drew Bell, a 2007 graduate, fired a 75 to earn a spot into the tournament. Also from the Lonestar state, Brian Benshoof of McKinney, Caleb Tucker of Kerrville, and Clay Holcomb of New Braunfels, carded 76 and finished tied for 12th. Rounding out all qualifiers with scores of 77 were Dillon Rust of Edmond, Okla., Cameron Fanning of Houston, Jeremy Frank of El Paso, Texas, Scott Ferguson of New Braunfels, Gabriel Frank of El Paso, and Chase Anderson of San Antonio.

Tallman, who will be playing in her second-ever AJGA event following her low-score performance on Monday, made birdies on hole Nos. 4 and 8. Despite a wrist injury, Tallman managed to hit the ball well, but said that her short game from 7-feet helped her the most. As for the upcoming tournament, Tallman is excited and hopes to play to the best of her ability, if not clinch a win.

“My ultimate goal is to win, but I will be happy playing the best I can,” said Tallman. “In preparation for the tournament, I am planning on working more on my short game and mentally preparing. From past experience I know not to get too excited, but to remain relaxed and focused.”

In the Girls Division, scores of 84 and below qualified for the tournament. Finishing behind Tallman, Liu carded 40 on both nines, ending with an 80. Kelsey Welber and Shannon Jungman of Plano and Pflugerville, Texas, respectively, fired scores of 81 to qualify for the tournament. Shooting an 84 and rounding out the top five qualifiers was Alli Itria of Lubbock, Texas.

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.

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 srixon.com.

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.

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, Candie Kung, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer.

First-round tee times will run from 7:30 a.m. — 12:36 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at The University of Texas Golf Club on Wednesday. For more information on the Fidelity Investments Stars of Texas Junior, please call AJGA tournament headquarters at (512) 266-6464.