NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania High School State Champions Gregor Orlando of Erie, Pa. and Rachel Rohanna of Waynesburg, Pa., claimed the victories at the AJGA Junior at New Castle.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Junior at New Castle was a 54-hole stroke play event held at New Castle Country Club. The tournament field consisted of 98 players, 75 boys and 23 girls from 20 states, Canada and Thailand. The Boys Division was played at 6,577 yards and the started until No. 11, where he scored his first birdie of the day. His birdies continued on Nos. 13, 15, and 18. Shooting a 2-under-par 70 for the final round, Orlando carded a tournament total of 6-under-par 210.
“I credit my win to my approach shots,” Orlando said. “They got me close to the hole so I didn’t have any 20-foot putts. That made this round a lot easier.”
Traveling only an hour and a half from home, Orlando is proud to seal his win so close to home.
“It’s awesome to have won here,” Orlando said. “New Castle is the only tournament close to my home; usually, I have about a six-hour drive.”
Joining Orlando in the top five was Andrew Kim of Lake Mary, Fla., at 4-under-par 212. In third at 2-under-par 214 was Andrew Knox of Cary, N.C. Tied for fourth at 1-over-par 217 were Brandon Rukin of Pepper Pike, Ohio, and Brian Langley of Blacksburg, Va.
In the Girls Division, coming into the final round tied for the lead, Rohanna was able to ward off her competitors. She credits her tournament low 4-over-par 220 to her work on the greens.
“My putting was better today,” Rohanna said. “I didn’t hit the greens, but I was able to keep a low score with the putts. I only had 28 putts today.”
Winning her first AJGA tournament, Rohanna is thrilled to have had the opportunity to win at New Castle Country Club.
“I live only about an hour and a half away from here,” Rohanna said. “It feels awesome to finally have my first win, and to have it here is even better.”
One-stroke behind Rohanna in second at 5-over-par 221 was Susana Benavides of Bradenton, Fla. Rounding out the Girls Division at 8-over-par 224 was Amy Meier of Rochester Hills, Mich.
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 AJGA Junior at New Castle, contact AJGA National Headquarters (770) 868-4200 or visit ajga.org.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Final results from the AJGA Junior at New Castle conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at New Castle Country Club. Par: Boys: 36-36—72; Girls: 36-36—72. Yardage: Boys: 6,577; Girls: 5,987. Rating/Slope: Boys: 73.9/138; Girls: 76.9/137.
BOYS DIVISION
Gregor Orlando, Erie, Pa. 71-69-70—210
Andrew Kim, Lake Mary, Fla. 71-71-70—212
Andrew Knox, Cary, N.C. 74-67-73—214
Brandon Rukin, Pepper Pike, Ohio 71-75-71—217
Brian Langley, Blacksburg, Va. 74-72-71—217
Nicholas Reach, Moscow, Pa. 74-70-74—218
Andrew Cho, Howey in The Hills, Fla. 73-72-74—219
Jordan Janico, Duluth, Ga. 72-73-74—219
Michael Klaric III, Hermitage, Pa. 74-74-72—220
Brendan Doyle, Beverly Hills, Calif. 74-76-71—221
Chun Hung Chan, Bradenton, Fla. 72-72-77—221
Ryan Simpson, Mechanicville, N.Y. 77-74-71—222
Alexander Waesche, Timonium, Md. 78-71-73—222
Matthew Porter, Cortland, N.Y. 70-78-74—222
Austin Romeo, Erie, Pa. 78-71-73—222
Rocky Khara, Sebring, Fla. 71-76-75—222
Patrick Leisure, Charlottesville , Va. 71-72-79—222
Grant Weaver, Wooster, Ohio 76-75-72—223
James Ellis, Greenville, N.C. 78-73-72—223
Patrick Rodgers, Avon, Ind. 72-75-76—223
Easton Renwick, Punxsutawney, Pa. 72-74-77—223
Michael Birmingham, Ashburn, Va. 77-76-71—224
E.J. McFarland, Pittsburgh, Pa. 76-76-72—224
Mathieu Philie, West Friendship, Md. 74-73-77—224
Ryan Vince, Charlotte, N.C. 71-72-82—225
Zachery Sobel, Clearwater Beach, Fla. 75-74-77—226
Logan Jones, Dublin, Ohio 73-77-76—226
Richard Sung, Closter, N.J. 78-78-71—227
Rick Travis, Dublin, Ohio 77-74-76—227
Motin Yeung, Orlando, Fla. 76-76-76—228
Ian Bangor, Moon Township, Pa. 75-77-76—228
Matthew Burkhart, Lancaster, Pa. 74-78-76—228
Alexander Bermingham, Bedford Hills, N.Y. 80-76-73—229
Christopher Williams, Washington, D.C. 76-79-74—229
Grant Martens, Pittsburgh, Pa. 76-78-75—229
Matthew Kreider, Westlake, Ohio 79-74-76—229
Corey Wagner, Glenshaw, Pa. 76-78-75—229
Joshua Burg, Willow Street, Pa. 76-75-78—229
Bennett Lavin, Deerfield, Ill. 75-79-76—230
Kurtis Straw, Johnstown, Pa. 78-74-78—230
Carson Weinand, Naples, Fla. 75-76-79—230
Tyber Lustig, Belle Vernon, Pa. 80-78-73—231
Bryan Giles, Williamsburg, Va. 78-75-78—231
Kyle Kegerreis, Chambersburg, Pa. 75-81-76—232
Joe Fransted, Novi, Mich. 77-77-78—232
Eddie Hjerpe, Barrington, R.I. 80-73-79—232
Ryan Prinzo, Glenmont, N.Y. 73-79-80—232
Stefan Brewer, Charlotte, N.C. 82-74-77—233
Bo Lustig, Belle Vernon, Pa. 80-72-81—233
Brock Pompeani, Aliquippa, Pa. 78-81-75—234
Michael Opsitnick, Avon, Ohio 78-78-78—234
Stephen LaRouere, Northville, Mich. 74-87-75—236
Brandon Pompeani, Aliquippa, Pa. 80-76-80—236
Tom Shin, Moorestown, N.J. 76-79-81—236
Zachary Bird, Erie, Pa. 78-74-84—236
Greg Schmaus, Upper Saddle River, N.J. 82-76-79—237
Ian Erdman, Rocky River, Ohio 79-78-80—237
Nikko Giangiuli, New Castle, Pa. 76-79-83—238
Bradley Yosaitis, Honolulu, Hawaii 79-78-82—239
Jack Mylott, Bradenton, Fla. 78-82-80—240
Andrew Graham, Lagrangeville, N.Y. 81-77-82—240
Patrick Sheedy, East Amherst, N.Y. 78-78-84—240
John Krpan, Burlington, Ontario 76-77-87—240
Jerrell Parrish, Glenn Dale, Md. 83-81-77—241
Jess Esposito, Ithaca, N.Y. 85-79-78—242
Jimmy Johnston, Wayne, Pa. 85-80-78—243
Andrew Bolinger, Castalia, Ohio 84-78-82—244
Derek Cowan, Meadville, Pa. 81-83-81—245
Lance Semich, McKees Rocks, Pa. 81-82-82—245
Phillip North, Hilton Head, S.C. 86-77-84—247
Jonathan Acosta, New Castle, Pa. 85-80-85—250
Samuel Brourman, Pittsburgh, Pa. 80-86-87—253
Aaron Pontsler, Monclova, Ohio 81-85-88—254
Anthony Paladino, Upper St. Clair, Pa. 89-86-82—257
*Bradley Trice, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 82 DQ - Rule 6-6b (NC) (6-6)
GIRLS DIVISION
Rachel Rohanna, Waynesburg, Pa. 73-73-74—220
Susana Benavides, Bradenton, Fla. 73-73-75—221
Amy Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich. 73-77-74—224
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. 75-77-73—225
Katia Joo, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. 75-77-76—228
Banchalee Theinthong, Bangkok, Thailand 76-78-77—231
Alexa Rancourt, Bradenton, Fla. 75-77-79—231
Isabel Han, Lake Mary, Fla. 80-80-72—232
Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. 81-78-74—233
Tracy Martin, Tyngsboro, Mass. 81-74-81—236
Samantha Morrell, North Kingstown, R.I. 77-80-80—237
Benyapha Vilairatana, Nontaburi, Thailand 84-81-75—240
Crystal Lee, Mahwah, N.J. 81-80-79—240
Nicole Agnello, Longwood, Fla. 85-78-77—240
Caroline Lovette, Davidsville, Pa. 82-77-84—243
Louise Yi, Cinnaminson, N.J. 81-84-84—249
Alison Chaney, Columbus, Ohio 82-84-84—250
Grace Duboc, Greenwood Village, Colo. 79-87-85—251
Courtney Kordes, Natrona Heights, Pa. 83-85-85—253
Brooke O'Brien, Hilliard, Ohio 84-91-88—263
Shantel Montgomery, Minot, N.D. 83-91-90—264
Victoria Newbury, Williamsburg, Va. 87-87-90—264
Aliza Shatzman, Amler, Pa. 86-92-88—266
