By Tonya Oskarson
Director of Corporate Communications

Playing junior golf at the national level is very competitive and sometimes juniors just need the opportunity to prove that they can compete. So the AJGA created the Medicus Preseason Junior Series to give first-time AJGA members or those who have never competed in an AJGA event the opportunity to play in an AJGA event.

The Medicus Preseason Junior Series events are filled on a first-come, first-served basis after the tournament applications are released with 50 precent of the initial tournament field reserved for rising seniors (2008 graduates). These events feature a practice round and two days of stroke play competition.

Based on the junior’s finish, he or she has the opportunity to gain status in the AJGA’s Performance Based Entry system. The medalist(s) at each event earns two tournament exemptions, while the top-10 boys and top-three girls earn one exemption and the top 33 percent earn one performance star.

The 2007 Medicus Preseason events are now all complete and each event provided a lot of excitement for the juniors and everyone in attendance.

The first event of the series, the Medicus Preseason Junior at Tapatio Springs, was held at Tapatio Springs Resort & Conference Center in Boerne, Texas, over Easter Weekend. Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not want to cooperate and the first round was cancelled due to extremely cold temperatures and sleet. On Easter Sunday, Mark Mumford of Rye, N.Y., was able to overcome the weather conditions to notch his first national victory after firing a 2-under-par 70.

“It's hard to play when you can't feel your hands,” Mumford said. “But it warmed up so it was okay.”

The next weekend, the AJGA conducted the Medicus Preseason Junior at Mystic Dunes in a little warmer climate, Celebration, Fla. However, Mother Nature still did not want to cooperate and the final round was cancelled because of severe thunderstorms. Mitchell Gray of Florence, S.C., claimed medalist honors after he shot a 1-under-par 70 in the first round.

The third event of the series was held in Mendon, N.Y., at The Country Club of Mendon. Jamison Sindelar of Horseheads, N.Y., came from three shots behind to claim the title in the Boys Division at the Medicus Preseason Junior at Rochester presented by Wegmans LPGA and Xerox Classic after carding a two-round total of 7-over-par 149. In the Girls Division, Darlea Carr of Pinehurst, N.C., took the title with a two-round total of 156.

At the Medicus Preseason Junior at Texarkana, which was held the same weekend as the New York event, Maria Loza of Bucaramanga, Colombia, claimed her first victory in the United States. Loza had a tournament total of 154 to win by one stroke. In the Boys Division, Austin Gutgsell of Mandeville, La., made three straight birdies in the final round on the way to a 4-under-par 32 opening nine en route to his three-stroke triumph.

Despite making a triple bogey in the final round of the Medicus Preseason Junior in the Chicago Southland, Michael Wuertz of Davenport, Iowa, was able to claim medalist honors. Wuertz was the only player to finish the tournament under par, with a 1-under-par 143.

At the Medicus Preseason Junior at Albuquerque, Derek Fribbs of Castle Rock, Colo., entered the final round with a five-stroke lead after firing a 6-under-par 66 on day one. He went on to claim his first national title with a tournament total of 4-under-par 140. This event also provided a first for the AJGA, as it featured a live Webcast, courtesy of TSPN.tv, from the ninth and 18th holes.

Kaitlin Drolson of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., claimed top honors at the Medicus Preseason Junior at Rancho Mirage. Drolson finished with a tournament total of 143 and won by five shots. In the Boys Division, Tim Honeycutt of Placerville, Calif., entered the final round with a three-shot lead after carding a 6-under-par 66. He took home medalist honors with a tournament total 5-under-par 139.

The Medicus Preseason Junior Series was made possible thanks to the support of Medicus Golf, who sponsored the series for the second time in 2007. 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. For more information on Medicus Golf, log onto www.medicusgolf.com.