FRANKFORT, Ill. -- Michael Wuertz of Davenport, Iowa carded a final round of even par 72 to capture medalist honors at the Medicus Preseason Junior in the Chicago Southland. Wuertz was the only player in the field to finish the tournament below par, recording a two-day total of 1-under-par 143.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Medicus Preseason Junior in the Chicago Southland was a 36-hole stroke play event held at Green Garden Country Club – Blue Course. The 83-player field featured players from 17 states and Canada. The course played at 6,587 yards.
After a solid front nine of 1-under-par 35, Wuertz ran into trouble on No. 11 taking four strokes on the green for a triple-bogey. However, Wuertz knew he still had enough holes remaining to make his way back up the leaderboard.
“After I had that seven, I just thought to myself, ‘I’ve got two easy par 5’s coming up that I can birdie’” Wuertz said.
And the 16-year-old did just that, rolling in putts on Nos. 13 and 15. The biggest shot of the day though came from just off the green when Wuertz chipped in for birdie on No. 16 to cap off the ‘roller-coaster’ back nine.
His tournament total of 1-under-par 143 secured a one-stoke victory, and offered a great deal of encouragement heading into the summer.
“It’s a big confidence booster, and it helps me that I know I can win out here on the AJGA,” Wuertz said.
Ben Peacock of Marshall, Mich., finished second with a tournament total of even-par 144. Stewart Hagestad of Newport Beach, Calif., finished third at 2-over-par 146, while Ryan Terdik of Mt. Pleasant, Ontario recorded a total of 3-over-par 147 to take fourth place. Luke Shaughnessy of Peterborough, Ontario and Erik Peterson of Inverness, Ill., each finished with tournament totals of 4-over-par 148 to tie for fifth.
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.
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 about the Medicus Preseason Junior in the Chicago Southland, please contact National Headquarters at (877) 373-2542, or visit ajga.org.
# AJGA #
FRANKFORT, Ill. — Final results from the Medicus Preseason Junior in the Chicago Southland conducted by the American Junior Golf
Association at Green Garden Country Club - Blue Course. Par: 36-36—72. Yardage: 6,587. Rating/Slope: 70.9/117.
Michael Wuertz, Davenport, Iowa 71-72—143
Ben Peacock, Marshall, Mich. 69-75—144
Stewart Hagestad, Newport Beach, Calif. 72-74—146
Ryan Terdik, Mt. Pleasant, Ontario 74-73—147
Luke Shaughnessy, Peterborough, Ontario 76-72—148
Erik Peterson, Inverness, Ill. 73-75—148
Ben Westley, Minneapolis, Minn. 71-78—149
Parker Freiburg, Quincy, Ill. 75-76—151
Eddie Hjerpe, Barrington, R.I. 74-77—151
Greg Meisner, Waterford, Mich. 71-80—151
Nick Helser, Lancaster, Ohio 72-79—151
Carson Schambach, Glen Dale, W. Va. 74-77—151
Paul Nirenberg, West Bloomfield, Mich. 72-80—152
Christopher Burgner, Bourbonnais, Ill. 72-80—152
Shane Convery, Raymond, Ill. 74-78—152
David Flynn, Elk Grove Village, Ill. 73-79—152
Travis England, Moline, Ill. 75-78—153
Michael Fowler, Centralia, Ill. 82-72—154
Steve Bednar, Munroe Falls, Ohio 74-80—154
Alexander Pratt, Dewitt, Mich. 75-79—154
Joseph Inzano, Burr Ridge, Ill. 77-77—154
Leo Karris, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 74-81—155
Peter Korbakes, Lemont, Ill. 70-85—155
Will Baylor, Rolla, Mo. 77-78—155
Gregory Smith, Commerce Township, Mich. 77-79—156
Ryan Murphy, Champaign, Ill. 75-81—156
Ryan Alger, Livonia, Mich. 79-77—156
Anthony Pino, Caledonia, Mich. 79-77—156
Matthew Alessi, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 80-76—156
Stephen Powers, Naperville, Ill. 76-80—156
Kevin Koerbel, Gibsonia, Pa. 75-82—157
Ryan Gillen, Miamisburg, Ohio 80-77—157
Ben Glatz, Kildeer, Ill. 69-88—157
Cameron Thomas, Germantown, Tenn. 75-82—157
Kyle Wilshire, Georgetown, Ky. 75-82—157
Stewart Surratt, Harrisonburg, Va. 79-78—157
Philip Gieseker, Saline, Mich. 73-84—157
Kyle Gillen, Miamisburg, Ohio 76-82—158
Brian Dorfman, Greenwood Village, Colo. 73-85—158
Brenten Blakeman, Burr Ridge, Ill. 75-83—158
William Boyle, Jr., Wellesley, Mass. 78-81—159
Brandon Rukin, Pepper Pike, Ohio 78-81—159
Stephen LaRouere, Northville, Mich. 78-81—159
Zachary Butler, Lexington, Ky. 77-83—160
Michael Flickinger, Pittsburgh, Pa. 76-84—160
Michael Sainz, Elgin, Ill. 80-80—160
Jake O'Connor, West Bloomfield, Mich. 79-81—160
Korey Ward, West Chester, Ohio 74-86—160
Ryan Bilkos, Ortonville, Mich. 76-84—160
Louis Gleixner, Greenwood, Ind. 77-83—160
Nicholas Rollick III, South Lyon, Mich. 83-78—161
Christopher Niemiec, Saint Charles, Ill. 75-86—161
Jack Shoreman, Orangeville, Ontario 74-87—161
John Pendy, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. 78-84—162
Andrew Rust, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 81-81—162
Justin Lawler, West Union, Ohio 82-80—162
Joseph Pellettiere, Long Grove, Ill. 78-85—163
Thomas Fredal, Jr., Clinton Township, Mich. 76-87—163
Brock Clary, Ostrander, Ohio 80-83—163
Brandon Seydel, Erie, Ill. 84-79—163
Benjamin Simpson, Lexington, Ky. 79-85—164
Matthew Kyles, Lexington, Ky. 78-86—164
Nicholas Sayles, Grand Rapids, Mich. 84-80—164
Max Parker, Lewiston, N.Y. 81-83—164
Jonathan Haedt, Davenport, Iowa 79-85—164
Matthew Crandall, Barrington, Ill. 78-87—165
Sean Fox, Bloomfield, Mich. 86-80—166
Simran Magowan, Loveland, Ohio 81-86—167
Jasmeet Mavi, Palatine, Ill. 86-82—168
David Tepe, Liberty Township, Ohio 79-89—168
George Kudwa, Kalamazoo, Mich. 83-85—168
Michael Sweeney, Homer Glen, Ill. 85-83—168
Ryan Rao, Medina, Ohio 78-90—168
Scott Shiple, Frankfort, Ill. 86-83—169
Stephen Marbach, Naperville, Ill. 85-84—169
Lehman Godwin, Springfield, Mo. 82-88—170
Tom Ribelli, Kirtland, Ohio 85-86—171
Jeffrey Ray, Barrington, R.I. 80-91—171
Michael Sullivan, Burr Ridge, Ill. 82-89—171
David Driver, Macomb, Mich. 81-90—171
Connor Mulvey, Orland Park, Ill. 85-89—174
Kevin Ori, Chicago, Ill. 89-92—181
Daniel Willis, Oakwood, Ohio 94-87—181
Jeff Panozzo, Frankfort, Ill. JWD
** JWD=Justified WD
