TEXARKANA, Texas -- Maria Loza of Bucaramanga, Colombia, capped off a 154-tournament total with a 79 in the final round to hold off Tessa The of Los Altos, Calif., by one stroke in the inaugural Medicus Preseason Junior at Texarkana. In the Boys Division, Austin Gutgsell of Mandeville, La., fired a 2-under-par 70 for a 141 two-day total to earn the title by three shots.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Medicus Preseason Junior at Texarkana was a 36-hole stroke play event held at Texarkana Golf Ranch. The 83-player field featured players from 20 states and Colombia. The Girls Division played Texarkana Golf Ranch at 5,732 yards, while the Boys Division played it at 6,465 yards.

In the Girls Division, Loza made her only birdie of the day on No. 6, but drained a key 12-foot putt for a sand-saving par on No. 18 to seize the one-shot victory.

“I’m very excited because I’ve never won in the states,” said Loza. “I didn’t know it was to win, so it was really good to win like that. It wasn’t a really good round, but I just tried to stay as calm as I could; I just putted good on my last few holes.”

The Colombia native finished a shot ahead of The, who posted a tournament total of 155 following a final-round 77. Kristen Hamel of Chesterfield, Mo., and Lauren Salazar of Santa Clara, Calif., each totaled 161 to tie for third place.

In the Boys Division, Gutsgell’s three straight birdies on Nos. 5, 6 and 7 led to a standout 4-under-par 32 opening nine en route to his three-stroke triumph.

“It’s very exciting to win in my first AJGA event,” said Gutsgell, whose 30-foot birdie putt on No. 6 kept his momentum rolling on the front nine. “This is a real nice track; the greens were very undulating and rolling very nice and the course was very firm, so position was the key out there.”

Stetson McMillan of Hideaway, Texas, and Andrew Presley of Fort Worth, Texas, each totaled even-par 144 for the tournament to tie for second place. Ryan Dagerman of Dallas and Chandler Rusk of Edmond, Okla., finished with 145s to tie for the fourth spot.

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 AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 25 foreign countries.

Medicus Golf and The Medicus Golf Institute are dedicated to enabling all golfers to “Live Their Vision” in reaching their potential. By expanding its corporate vision, mission, products and services, Medicus Golf will enable golfers to learn and grow — both as a person and as a player — in a series of new and exciting developmental formats.

Medicus Golf enters its second year of sponsorship of the AJGA by supporting the Medicus Preseason Series. The Medicus Learning System, a comprehensive series of golf training aids, is dedicated to assisting golfers of all ages.

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 on the Medicus Preseason Junior at Texarkana, please contact AJGA headquarters at (770) 868-4200.

TEXARKANA, Texas -- Final results from the Medicus Preseason Junior at Texarkana conducted by the American Junior Golf Association

at Texarkana Golf Ranch. Par: Boys: 36-36—72; Girls: 36-36—72. Yardage: Boys: 6,465; Girls: 5,732. Rating/Slope: Boys: 72.2/141; Girls: 74.5/139.

BOYS DIVISION
Austin Gutgsell, Mandeville, La. 71-70—141
Andrew Presley, Fort Worth, Texas 71-73—144
Stetson McMillan, Hideaway, Texas 72-72—144
Ryan Dagerman, Dallas, Texas 71-74—145
Chandler Rusk, Edmond, Okla. 72-73—145
Asa Manor, Marquette, Kan. 72-75—147
Sean Madera, Houston, Texas 75-72—147
Adam Carpenter, Little Rock, Ark. 75-74—149
Teejay Shanks, Texarkana, Texas 76-73—149
Drew Dorsey, Edmond, Okla. 77-72—149
Nick Wilson, Little Rock, Ark. 74-76—150
Jeremy Self, Belden, Miss. 73-77—150
Alex Carpenter, Little Rock, Ark. 76-76—152
Joseph Rice, IV, Dunkirk, Md. 77-75—152
Andrew Cho, Howey in The Hills, Fla. 70-82—152
Zack Smith, Carthage, Texas 76-77—153
Jacob Bartel, Sallisaw, Okla. 76-77—153
Thomas Mitchell, The Woodlands, Texas 77-76—153
Andrew Noto, Luling, La. 73-81—154
Matthew McKown, Van Buren, Ark. 74-80—154
Andrew Flesher, Little Rock, Ark. 73-81—154
Taylor Mihok, Aledo, Texas 77-77—154
Nick Deaver, Waco, Texas 78-77—155
Jes Sanders, Rogers, Ark. 81-74—155
Jon Sanfelippo, Tyler, Texas 77-79—156
Steven Woodard, Palestine, Texas 77-80—157
Ryan Ennis, Benton, Ark. 77-80—157
Kevin Stratton, Las Vegas, Nev. 81-76—157
Edward DeVane III, San Antonio, Texas 82-76—158
Jack Blanchat, Little Rock, Ark. 79-79—158
Ross Menard, Maurice, La. 79-80—159
Benjamin Bankhead, McKinney, Texas 79-81—160
Seth Sullivant, Mountain Home, Ark. 79-81—160
Jared Ward, Owasso, Okla. 81-80—161
Tyler Duffy, Lone Oak, Texas 85-77—162
Davis Rison, Ardmore, Okla. 79-84—163
Connor Green, Selma, Calif. 79-84—163
Richard Piacentino, Germantown, Tenn. 82-82—164
Cole Carruthers, The Woodlands, Texas 72-92—164
Ryan Prasad, The Woodlands, Texas 85-79—164
Jean-Paul Aube', III, Heath, Texas 79-86—165
Michael Chudacoff, Glencoe, Ill. 79-87—166
Ryan Knighton, Sachse, Texas 82-84—166
Scott Hamel, Chesterfield, Mo. 83-84—167
Evan Smith, The Woodlands, Texas 84-85—169
Daniel DeRozario, Lewisville, Texas 90-81—171
Patrick Willey, Conway, Ark. 77-94—171
Ryan Hadash, Katy, Texas 90-82—172
Michael Connelly, Laurel, Md. 85-87—172
Basey Swearingen, Nacogdoches, Texas 85-87—172
Brett Armstrong, Frisco, Texas 86-89—175
Charlie Martin, Liberty Township, Ohio 93-85—178
Douglas Gribin, Irving, Texas 93-86—179
Timothy Kelly, Wheaton, Ill. 84-96—180
Daniel Parker, The Woodlands, Texas 85-95—180
Richard Morrison, Harrison, Tenn. 88-94—182
Wyatt Robson, Ada, Okla. 90-93—183
Paden Peek, De Queen, Ark. 91-93—184
Connor Jolibois, The Woodlands, Texas 91-98—189
Garett Wilhite, Mountain Home, Ark. 81 JWD

GIRLS DIVISION
Maria Loza, Bucaramanga, --, Colombia 75-79—154
Tessa The, Los Altos, Calif. 78-77—155
Lauren Salazar, Santa Clara, Calif. 78-83—161
Kristen Hamel, Chesterfield, Mo. 82-79—161
Jennel Alexander, Gardena, Calif. 83-80—163
Lindsey Eisenreich, Fenton, Mo. 88-80—168
Janie Jackson, Huntsville, Ala. 83-87—170
Victoria Vela, Mansfield, Texas 85-85—170
Leslie McGetrick, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 84-87—171
Carolyn Chandler, Phoenix, Md. 92-83—175
Sam Nielsen, Superior, Neb. 85-91—176
Rachel Mulkey, Flower Mound, Texas 84-94—178
Christie Tallent, Haverford, Pa. 89-90—179
Jinjutha Noibanchong, Mandeville, La. 93-87—180
Lauren Waddell, Boca Raton, Fla. 92-90—182
Catherine Herrera, Houston, Texas 87-97—184
Amelia Morgan, Chattanooga, Tenn. 90-95—185
Samantha Khan, Saint Peters, Mo. 91-94—185
Kimberly Santiago, Lynnwood, Wash. 91-95—186
Laura Deleonardis, Flower Mound, Texas 91-96—187
Elizabeth Fitzsimonds, Evanston, Ill. 96-93—189
Chloe Kittle, Lees Summit, Mo. 112-93—205
Ji In Park, Cupertino, Calif. 78-82 DQ (Rule 6-6d)

** JWD=Justified WD