FIELD SET FOR PING/MARSICO FUNDS COLORADO JUNIOR ROUNDUP
11 boys, two girls qualify at Walking Stick Golf Course

PUEBLO, Colo. - On a beautiful sunny day at Walking Stick Golf Course, 11 boys and two girls gained entry via an 18-hole qualifier to the PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior Roundup to be conducted June 3-6 by the American Junior Golf Association.

Three boys competitors, Tyler Darden of Lubbock, Texas, David Tregemba of Castle Rock, Colo., and John Sutko of Omaha, Neb., tied for top honors with a 2-over-par 73. Each qualified for their first AJGA event.

This was Darden's third attempt at an AJGA qualifier.

"I really chipped and putted well," Darden said. "A birdie at the sixth really got me going."

In his second AJGA qualifier ever, Tregemba's success came with his driver.

"My driver was working well all day and it really helped me along," Tregemba said. "I'm looking forward to a fun week and hopefully I'll do well."

In his first AJGA qualifier, Sutko used his short game to push him atop the leaderboard.

"My front 9 was great; I parred every hole," Sutko said. "My short game really helped me a lot today. I'm definitely looking forward to playing in the tournament."

Also qualifying on the boys' side was Matthew Randel of Boulder, Colo., Chris Johnson of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and David Cosel of Monument, Colo., who each came in with a 3-over-par 74.

Shooting a 75 and qualifying was John Philpy of Eads, Colo., Jeffrey Franks of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Jack Spehn of Centennial, Colo.

A sudden-death playoff was necessary to determine the final two qualifiers for the field of 84. Austin Stone of Sheridan, Wyo., qualified after two holes by draining a par putt on the 18th green. Chase Bingham earned the final spot in the field on the sixth playoff hole.

Taking top honors for the girls was Dawn Shockley of Glen Haven, Colo., with a 7-over-par 79. This was Shockley's first AJGA qualifier.

"I was really excited to play today, and even more excited to advance to the tournament," Shockley said. "My goal for the tournament is to play well and hopefully finish in the top 10."

The second girl qualifier was determined in a playoff. Regina Rodriguez of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Kelly Burke of Golden, Colo., both shot an 8-over-par 80, then battled through two holes of a sudden-death playoff, with Rodriguez coming away the victor.

The first round of the PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior Roundup gets under way Wednesday at Walking Stick Golf Course. The field for the 54-hole stroke play competition will consist of 84 boys and girls from 12 states and Canada, and includes more than 30 Colorado residents.

Featured in the field will be four Polo Golf Junior All-Americans, including, 2002 U.S. Open participant Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz., Ashley Rollins of Austin, Texas, and Songyi Yi of San Diego, Calif. Also included in the field will be last year's PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior Roundup runners-up, Jennifer Hong of Windermere, Fla., and Michael Baird of Castle Rock, Colo.

First-round tee times will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday on the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Walking Stick Golf Course.

For more information on the PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior Roundup, please contact tournament headquarters at (719) 584-3400 ext. 102.

# AJGA #