BRASELTON, Ga. – Jan. 6, 2005 – Srixon Sports and the American Junior Golf Association will partner in 2005 to conduct 44 Srixon Qualifiers in 25 states to accompany the 44 Open events on the AJGA schedule, the AJGA has announced.

The three-year deal will provide playing opportunities to more than 4,000 junior golfers, ages 12-18, throughout the AJGA season. The agreement marks the first partnership between the AJGA and Atlanta-based Srixon in the 27-year existence of the Association.

The Srixon Qualifier Series is part of a continuing effort being made to provide AJGA members with additional opportunities to compete at the national level.

"The AJGA has been the cornerstone for developing golf at a high level," said Mike Pai, vice president of marketing for Srixon Sports. "We are excited to expose our brand to the world's best junior golfers and have them consider Srixon."

Srixon Qualifiers are 18-hole events that will take place prior to every Open tournament. Approximately 100 junior golfers who comprise each qualifier field will compete to round out remaining spots in the Open tournaments. Fifty percent of the approximately 100-player fields will be restricted to 2006 high school graduates in order to provide them with playing opportunities to gain optimal exposure to colleges and universities prior to graduation.

As part of the deal, each junior golfer competing in a Srixon Qualifier will receive a dozen golf balls courtesy of Srixon.

"We are excited to have a world-respected company such as Srixon as a sponsor of our Qualifier Series," said Jason Etzen, AJGA executive vice president of development. "Srixon's support will allow more juniors opportunities to gain national exposure for college golf scholarships."

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.

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 280 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.

For more information, please contact Tonya Oskarson in the AJGA Communications Department at (770) 868-4200, ext. 784, or visit the AJGA's Web site at ajga.org.

Media Contact:
Tonya Oskarson
AJGA Communications
(770) 868-4200, ext. 784