FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Korey Ward of West Chester, Ohio, battled the gusty wind and on and off rain to shoot a 3-under-par 67 and medal in the Boys Division of the National Qualifier at Nemacolin. In the Girls Division, Chelsea Pezzola of Bradenton, Fla., overcame putting struggles to medal with a 6-over-par 76.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the National Qualifier at Nemacolin was an 18-hole stroke play event played at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s Links Course. The qualifier field consisted of 99 players, 84 boys and 15 girls from 17 states and three countries. The Boys Division was played at 6,366 yards and the Girls Division at 5,992 yards.
Ward had been working on his long game coming into the qualifier, but credited his putting for the eagle and four birdies that helped him gain a Tournament Exemption for the future.
“My short game was great today,” Ward said. “I only had 28 putts and hit one shot out of bounds, so the whole round went well.”
The National Qualifier at Nemacolin was a stand alone event that allowed players an opportunity to earn additional Performance Based Entry Status. In the Boys Division, the top 10 and ties gained one Tournament Exemption, while the top 50 percent and ties earned one Performance Star.
Earning one Tournament Exemption with scores of 75 or below were, Tom Lovelady of Birmingham, Ala., Chad Merzbacher of Dublin, Ohio, Mark Endres of Bryn Mawr, Pa., Marcus Plunkett of St. Augustine, Fla., Bo Lustig of Belle Vernon, Pa., Andrew Park of Seoul, South Korea, Thomas Douglas of Canal Winchester, Ohio, Samuel Hockfield of Gladwyne, Pa., and Jared Howard of Dublin, Ohio. Those who shot a score of 80 or better in the Boys Division will receive one Performance Star.
Pezzola found that a long birdie on No. 15 combined with her accuracy from the tee made for a successful day.
“I hit my driver really well today and my iron shots got better throughout,” Pezzola said. “The wind was a big factor when it came to par-3’s, but overall it was a great day.”
In the Girls Division, the top three and ties earned one Tournament Exemption, while the top 50 percent received one Performance Star. In addition to Pezzola, Nadia Luttner of Pittsburgh and Regina Alonso of Huixquilucan, Mexico, gained a Tournament Exemption with scores of 79. Those shooting a score of 85 or better received one Performance Star.
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 49 states and more than 25 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 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 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 National Qualifier at Nemacolin please contact AJGA National Headquarters at 770-868-4200.
FARMINGTON, Pa. — Final results from the AJGA National Qualifier at Nemacolin conducted by the American Junior Golf
Association at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort - Links Course. Par: Boys: 35-35—70; Girls: 35-35—70. Yardage: Boys: 6,366; Girls: 5,992.
Rating/Slope: Boys: 71.1/130; Girls: 74.3/130.
BOYS DIVISION
Korey Ward, West Chester, Ohio 32-35—67
Tom Lovelady, Birmingham, Ala. 36-35—71
Chad Merzbacher, Dublin, Ohio 34-37—71
Mark Endres, Bryn Mawr, Pa. 34-38—72
Marcus Plunkett, St. Augustine, Fla. 36-36—72
Bo Lustig, Belle Vernon, Pa. 37-35—72
Andrew Park, Seoul, South Korea 36-37—73
Thomas Douglas, Canal Winchester, Ohio 40-34—74
Samuel Hockfield, Gladwyne, Pa. 38-36—74
Jared Howard, Dublin, Ohio 37-38—75
Geoff Vartelas, Cromwell, Conn. 39-37—76
Ralph Blasey, Kensington, Md. 36-40—76
Michael Opsitnick, Avon, Ohio 36-40—76
Kyle Deisher, Montgomery, Pa. 40-36—76
Bennett Lavin, Deerfield, Ill. 39-38—77
Devin O'Grady, Lancaster, Pa. 39-38—77
Nathan Kreutzer, Pittsburgh, Pa. 38-39—77
Greg Schmaus, Upper Saddle River, N.J. 37-40—77
Matt Kinkopf, Hilliard, Ohio 35-42—77
Michael DiTursi, Rye, N.Y. 42-35—77
Justin Lawler, West Union, Ohio 36-41—77
Easton Renwick, Punxsutawney, Pa. 39-38—77
Tyber Lustig, Belle Vernon, Pa. 40-37—77
Ryan Healy, Gibsonia, Pa. 37-41—78
Zachary Herr, New Hope, Pa. 38-40—78
Jack Shoreman, Orangeville, Ontario 38-40—78
Jordan Stein, Glencoe, Ill. 37-41—78
Brock Pompeani, Aliquippa, Pa. 37-41—78
Sam Stewart, Reisterstown, Md. 39-39—78
Kurtis Straw, Johnstown, Pa. 40-38—78
Alex Church, Timonium, Md. 40-39—79
Derek Cowan, Meadville, Pa. 39-40—79
Adam Vertuca, Dublin, Ohio 38-41—79
Nicholas Palladino, Highland Heights, Ohio 40-39—79
Andrew Bieber, Danville, Pa. 37-42—79
Tyler Williams, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 37-42—79
Michael Kamargo, Bethesda, Md. 41-39—80
Nick McLaughlin, New Castle, N.H. 44-36—80
Kurt Brey, Farmingdale, N.Y. 41-39—80
Brian Hollins, Rockville, Md. 37-43—80
E.J. McFarland, Pittsburgh, Pa. 38-42—80
Jay Sapperstein, Baltimore, Md. 37-43—80
Zachary Dilcher, Avondale, Pa. 39-41—80
Hunter Zetsche, Frisco, Texas 40-40—80
Ted Brennan, Newtown Square, Pa. 42-39—81
Michael Werenski, South Hadley, Mass. 43-38—81
Andrew Henehan, Kettering, Ohio 38-43—81
Alexander McMahon, Naples, Fla. 42-40—82
Steven Slocum, Fairfax Station, Va. 40-42—82
Nicholas Adkins, Ashland, Ohio 41-41—82
Tommy Leech, Pittsburgh, Pa. 39-43—82
Zac Bihler, Erie, Pa. 38-44—82
Chris O'Neill, Glen Allen, Va. 43-39—82
Chad Casey, South Bend, Ind. 42-40—82
Sean Murphy, Hudson, Ohio 43-40—83
Alexander Kamargo, Bethesda, Md. 41-42—83
Benjamin Kreutzer, Pittsburgh, Pa. 39-44—83
Todd Berglund, Pittsburgh, Pa. 41-42—83
Brian McCormick, Kensington, Md. 41-42—83
Henry Davis, Queretaro, Qro, Mexico 43-40—83
Jack Williams, Garden City, N.Y. 44-40—84
Dan McCrudden, Lancaster, Pa. 42-42—84
Matt Plummer, Mechanicsburg, Pa. 43-42—85
Griffith Basehore, Middletown, Pa. 41-44—85
Anthony Paladino, Upper St. Clair, Pa. 45-40—85
Thomas Linehan, Jr., Dansville, N.Y. 41-44—85
Alex Angelone, Irwin, Pa. 40-46—86
Jamey Hewatt, Mount Airy, Md. 39-47—86
John Merrill, Circleville, Ohio 41-46—87
Jack Maerki, Brightwaters, N.Y. 41-46—87
Jeong Hoon Lee, North Wales, Pa. 45-43—88
Kolya Wheeler, Wilmington, Del. 45-44—89
Mick Farlling, Carlisle, Pa. 47-43—90
Brent Bigler, Washington, Pa. 44-46—90
Max Wagner, Virginia Beach, Va. 45-45—90
David Daubert, Hanover , Pa. 43-49—92
Kaine Mowatt, Freeport, Pa. 45-47—92
Austin Song, Hudson, Ohio 50-45—95
Connor Zetsche, Frisco, Texas 52-45—97
Seth Johnston, Lititz, Pa. 49-52—101
Ian Gallo, Pittsburgh, Pa. 54-50—104
Chipper Hughes, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. JWD
Brett Hedeen, New Kensington, Pa. DQ - Rule 6-6b (NC)
HyungMo Kim, Norwood, N.J. DQ (Rule 7-1b)
Eric Urda, Sewickley, Pa. JWD
Connor Walters, Salem, Va. DQ - Rule 6-3a (NS)
GIRLS DIVISION
Chelsea Pezzola, Bradenton, Fla. 39-37—76
Nadia Luttner, Pittsburgh, Pa. 37-42—79
Regina Alonso, Huixquilucan, Mexico 41-38—79
Louise Yi, Cinnaminson, N.J. 39-42—81
Jae Hee Choi, Surrey, British Columbia 40-41—81
Hannah Pierce, King George, Va. 39-43—82
Caroline Lovette, Davidsville, Pa. 41-42—83
Jordan Lippetz, Bradenton, Fla. 43-42—85
Gabriella Dimarco, West Chester, Pa. 43-43—86
Sami Khan, Saint Peters, Mo. 42-45—87
Sara Oczypok, Pittsburgh, Pa. 43-45—88
Erica Herr, New Hope, Pa. 48-42—90
Diana Brown, Potomac, Md. 47-45—92
Tess Fraser, Marysville, Ohio 48-46—94
Alexis Romero, Youngstown, Ohio 54-51—105
** NS=No Show
** NC=No Card
** JWD=Justified WD
American Junior Golf Association, 1980 Sports Club Dr, Braselton, GA 30517-6000 United State
