CLOUSER'S 3-UNDER-PAR 69 GOOD FOR MEDALIST HONORS AT DEER CREEK
Alexander finishes three clear of field to medal in Girls Division

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — McCormick Clouser of Bluffton, Ind., fired a 3-under-par 69 to take medalist honors in the Boys Division at the K12 Qualifier for the AJGA Flossmoor Junior Open. In the Girls Division, Amira Alexander of Alpharetta, Ga., carded a 3-over-par 75 to medal at Deer Creek Golf Club.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the K¹² Qualifier for the AJGA Flossmoor Junior Open was an 18-hole stroke play event held at the Deer Creek Golf Club. The qualifier field featured 79 boys and 19 girls, ages 14-18, from 12 states. The Boys Division played the par-72 layout at 6,778 yards, while the Girls Division played the course at 6,070 yards.

Typically held the day prior to AJGA Open tournaments, 18-hole K12 Qualifiers give juniors an opportunity to "play their way in" to each coinciding AJGA tournament or build their AJGA Performance Based Entry status. In all, nine boys and two girls advanced from the K12 Qualifier and have the opportunity to play in the AJGA Flossmoor Junior Open, which begins Tuesday, July 21. The K12 Qualifier Series offers opportunities for AJGA juniors at approximately 50 AJGA Open events.

Starting on No. 10, Clouser recorded three birdies in his first six holes en route to a 3-under-par 33 on the back nine. He kept a clean card until the par-3 eighth where he carded his first bogey of the day. However, he followed with a birdie at No. 9 to post an even-par 36 on his inward nine. Clouser said he expects to play well in the tournament this week.

“I've been playing pretty well,” Clouser said. “I feel like I can do well and finish at the top over there.”

Joining Clouser in this week's event are Wes Bowman of Fishers, Ind., Chris Cunningham of Milford, Mich., Kyle Henning of Brookfield, Wis., William Wright of Winnetka, Ill., Dylan Lee of Hinsdale, Ill., Jon Christ of Kalamazoo, Mich., Jack Rider of Vicksburg, Mich., Michael Zausmer of West Bloomfield, Mich., Jimmy Slovitt of Winnetka, Ill., Travis Smyczynski of Barrington, Ill., Kevin Curliss of Madison, Wis., and Parker Sheppard of Fortville, Ind.

Qualifying for the AJGA Flossmoor Junior Open but opting to take an AJGA Tournament Exemption in lieu of playing in this week's event were Steven Petchenik of Glenview, Ill., Jimmy Jaskoske of Addison, Ill., Jonathan Gerrard of Highland Park, Ill., Kevin Haack of Elm Grove, Wis., Matthew Ross of Hartland, Wis., John Weyenberg of Menasha, Wis., Daniel Kaplan of Highland Park, Ill., Austin Wilson of Eden Prairie, Minn., Andrew Mitchell of Benton, Ill., Kyle Driscoll of Pewaukee, Wis., Francesco Ruffino of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Kyle Andre of Destin, Fla.

In the Girls Division, Alexander opened with a 1-over-par 37 on her front nine, including seven pars and a birdie in her first eight holes. She continued her solid play on the back nine, carding a birdie to counter three bogeys en route to a 2-over-par 38.

“I hit a lot of my second shots on the green,” Alexander said. “I think I hit 15 greens. I feel pretty confident now, I expect to play well.”

Also in this week's event in the Girls Division is Grace Kingdom of Wilmette, Ill.

Optiong to take an AJGA Tournament Exemption in lieu of playing in this week's event was Kelly Grassel of Chesterton, Ind.

K¹² Inc., a technology-based education company, is the nation's leading provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs to students in grades K-12. K¹² provides its curriculum and academic services to online schools, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. Over 55,000 students in 23 states and the District of Columbia are enrolled in online public schools that use the K¹² program. K¹² Inc. also operates the K¹² International Academy, an accredited, diploma-granting online private school serving students worldwide. The K¹² academic program is used by many young people pursuing careers in athletics, music, art, acting, and other professions that require a high degree of scheduling flexibility. More information can be found at www.k12.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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and more than 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, 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. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 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 AJGA Flossmoor Junior Open, please contact AJGA Tournament Headquarters at (708) 798-4700