VONGVANIJ LEADS AFTER 2-UNDER-PAR OPENING ROUND 70
Thailand Native Birdies Six Holes in First AJGA Event

DOTHAN, Ala. - Arnond Vongvanij of Bradenton, Fla., sizzled through the par-72 Highland Oaks Golf Course en route to an opening round 2-under-par 70 at the Ashworth Preseason Junior at Highland Oaks presented by Movie Gallery.

The 36-hole, stroke-play tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 84 boys ages 13-18 representing 18 states and Canada. The tournament is being held on the Marshwood (front nine) and Highlands (back nine) courses at Highland Oaks Golf Course, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Vongvanij, 14, started strong on the front nine, knocking his second shot to within two feet on No. 3 and sinking the putt for a birdie. Successive birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 highlighted the 1-under-par 35 front nine. Vongvanij kept up the intensity on the back nine, stroking in a birdie on No. 10. His shot of the day came on the par-3, 13th hole, where his tee shot landed within a foot of the cup, leaving a tap-in for birdie. Vongvanij finished up the second nine with another 35 for a final-round score of 70.

"I worked pretty hard two weeks before the event because I knew it would be a good tournament with tough players on a hard course," Vongvanij said. "I worked on putting and it turned out great."
He credited a quick start as key to achieving first-round success and will try to stay focused for the final round on Sunday.

"I try to stay in the present and play my own game no matter how others are playing. I worry about tomorrow first and have goals for each day," he said.

If he is to fulfill his goal of winning his first AJGA event, Vongvanij will have to fend off some stiff competition. Among the competitors poised to make a push on Sunday is Steven Ransom, St. Augustine, Fla., who shot a 1-over-par 73 and stands three strokes back of the leader. Tied for third with first round scores of 74 are Stanton Lanham of Huntersville, N.C., and Blake Davis of Huntington, W. Va. Nathan Stamey of Canton, N.C., rounds out the top five with a 75.

The AJGA's Ashworth Preseason/Postseason Junior Series is a boys-only series designed specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series event. For those who are eligible, participation is limited to one Preseason event and one Postseason event per calendar year as long as they have not yet participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series event.

Now in its fourth year, the Ashworth Preseason/Postseason Series grew from eight events in 2002 to 10 in 2003. The Series helps juniors gain the experience needed to compete at the national level. Ashworth Preseason events will also be taking place in Patterson, Calif., Las Cruces, N.M., Hot Springs, Ark., and College Park, Md.

The tournament will award three AJGA Open tournament exemptions to the medalist(s), two to those who place in the top five and one to those who finish in the top 15. In an effort to give the most playing opportunities to juniors, all Ashworth Preseason/Postseason events will not have a playoff to break ties.

The tournament final round will be played on Sunday and is scheduled for an 8 a.m. shotgun start on the Marshwood and Highlands courses.

For more information about the Ashworth Preseason Junior at Highland Oaks presented by Movie Gallery, please contact tournament headquarters at (334) 712-2820.

DOTHAN, Ala. — First Round results from the Ashworth Preseason Junior at Highland Oaks presented by Movie Gallery conducted by the American
Junior Golf Association at Highland Oaks Golf Course, Marshwood and Highlands Courses. Par: 36-36—72. Yardage: 6,738

Arnond Vongvanij, Bradenton, Fla. 35-35—70
Steven Ransom, St.Augustine, Fla. 37-36—73
Stanton Lanham, Huntersville, N.C. 37-37—74
Blake Davis, Huntington, W.Va. 36-38—74
Nathan Stamey, Canton, N.C. 35-40—75
John Turnipseed, Rainbow City, Ala. 40-36—76
Austin Frye, Madison, Miss. 40-37—77
Zachary Canfield, Winter Park, Fla. 39-38—77
Carl Santos-Ocampo, Naples, Fla. 37-40—77
Rob Bennett, Augusta, Ga. 41-36—77
Ethan Maretich, Ringgold, Ga. 40-37—77
Michael Song, Bradenton, Fla. 40-38—78
Brinson Holder, Point Clear, Ala. 37-41—78
Chase MacFarland, Savannah, Ga. 37-41—78
John Park, Eustis, Fla. 39-39—78
Jordan Johnstun, Rock Hill, S.C. 38-40—78
Jaime Zabala, Naples, Fla. 40-38—78
Craig Whitt, Ann Arbor, Mich. 39-39—78
Justin Smith, Savannah, Ga. 37-41—78
Joe Jones, Pendleton, S.C. 42-36—78
Greg Simpson, Franklin, Tenn. 39-39—78
Benjamin Judd, Macon, Ga. 41-38—79
Matt Bradley, Shelby, N.C. 39-40—79
Tyler Oldenburg, Jacksonville, Fla. 40-39—79
Chappell Brown, W. Palm Beach, Fla. 43-36—79
Paul Swift, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 42-37—79
Michael Selvaggio, Simpsonville, S.C. 41-38—79
Robert Lindstrom, Huntsville, Ala. 41-38—79
Ross Vinson, Mobile, Ala. 39-40—79
Matt Pitts, Bradenton, Fla. 40-40—80
Mark Silvers, Savannah, Ga. 40-40—80
Landon DeStefano, Olive Branch, Miss. 42-38—80
Michael Knight, Calgary, Alberta 39-41—80
Art Richey, Russellville, Ala. 39-41—80
Ryan Zabroske, Alpharetta, Ga. 40-40—80
Ben Sauls, Baton Rouge, La. 41-40—81
Kevin Lim, Eustis, Fla. 42-39—81
Muhd Hanis Wahab, Sarasota, Fla. 41-40—81
Brennan Hollenbeck, Batavia, Ill. 43-38—81
Brett Munson, Louisville, Ky. 45-36—81
Aristo Shyn, Eagle River, Alaska 41-40—81
David Moss, Chicago, Ill. 42-40—82
Peter Yoo, Norcross, Ga. 42-40—82
Jamie Howell, Savannah, Ga. 44-38—82
Justin Denham, Woodstock, Ga. 38-44—82
Kyle Stiles, Athens, Ga. 44-38—82
John Thomas Williamson, Meridian, Miss. 40-43—83
Michael Saari, Lilburn, Ga. 46-37—83
Micah Triche, Morgan City, La. 45-39—84
Stephen Smith, Lafayette, La. 39-45—84
Jordan Carpenter, Fayetteville, Ga. 44-40—84
Taylor Harroun, St. Augustine, Fla. 47-37—84
James Stephens, Jr., Milton, Fla. 42-42—84
Brian Lawrence, Pace, Fla. 43-41—84
Matthew Morehead, Decatur, Ala. 42-42—84
Hunter Bronson, Mobile, Ala. 41-43—84
Allie Adams IV, Berwick, La. 42-43—85
Bo Cromelin, Chevy Chase, Md. 42-43—85
Nick Simmons, Greenwood Village, Colo. 42-43—85
Taylor Imperi, Gainesville, Fla. 43-43—86
Hays Featherston, Lexington, Ky. 45-41—86
Nathan Bennett, Oxford, Ala. 43-43—86
Justin Wenger, Alpharetta, Ga. 44-43—87
Michael Raines, Acworth, Ga. 42-45—87
James Whitehurst, Williston, Fla. 43-44—87
Tyler Rowe, Savannah, Ga. 44-43—87
Caleb Freitag, Clemmons, N.C. 46-41—87
Kyle Lindgren, Marietta, Ga. 45-43—88
Brian Bloom, Marietta, Ga. 46-43—89
Ben Drenth, Seminole, Fla. 46-43—89
Eric Futrell, Louisville, Ky. 42-47—89
Leslie Bonvillain, Luling, La. 46-43—89
Max Bonner, Dothan, Ala. 45-44—89
David Finethy, Jacksonville, Fla. 47-43—90
Christopher Heitz, Louisville, Ky. 44-46—90
Matthew Baumgartner, Sugar Grove, Ill. 44-46—90
Dan Direnfeld, Arlington, Va. 46-46—92
Byron Strickland, Enterprise, Ala. 52-41—93
Kyle Glenn, Lewis Center, Ohio 53-40—93
Landry Bates, Mooresville, Ind. 52-42—94
Christopher Duffy, Prospect, Ky. 47-47—94
Andrew Delaney, Wheaton, Ill. 48-47—95
Ty Luther, Wheaton, Ill. 48-48—96
Ty Cucarola, Madison, Ala. 50-46—96