MIDWEST JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP AT RICH HARVEST LINKS QUALIFIER

White Pines Golf Club

Bensenville, Illinois

July 5, 2004

GREENE MEDALS AT MIDWEST JUNIOR QUALIFIER

White shoots one over to win Girls Division

BENSENVILLE, Ill. — A pair of Illinois natives took medalist honors at the Midwest Junior Championship at Rich Harvest Links Qualifier, held at the White Pines Golf Club on Monday.  Thomas Greene of Roselle, Ill., distanced himself from the competition, firing a 6-under-par 66, while Kathleen White of Waukegan, Ill., placed first in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, this qualifier allowed more than 90 players to compete, with the low 15 boys and three girls earning exemptions into the Midwest Junior Championship at Rich Harvest Links to be held July 6-9.

Greene, 16, carded six birdies and no bogeys during his round.  He shot 32 on the front nine and finished the back with a 34.  Greene noted that his ability to “hit everything close” led to his solid play.

“I played what my dad called surgical golf today,” Greene said.  “I missed only one green and my sand wedge was excellent.”

Greene’s card included birdies on Nos. 1, 4, 5, 9, 12 and 17.  It was Greene’s play on the challenging par-5 No. 5, his last hole of the day, that solidified his qualifying round.

“I hit a good drive and then a 3-wood to the green,” Greene said.  “It landed about two yards in front of the green and I almost chipped it in.  I was able to make the putt and give myself confidence going into this week’s tournament.”

Finishing in second place was Frank McAuliffe of Ann Arbor, Mich., who posted a 68.  Both Nelson Mandrell of Chicago and Ian Gilley of Flossmoor, Ill., tied for third with identical 3-under-par 69s.  Rounding out the top five was Dusty Koth of Bloomington, Ill., who totaled a 2-under-par 70.

Also qualifying were Brandon Pelletier of Carrollton, Texas, Jack Schultz of Whitefish Bay, Wis., Jake Walsh of Hinsdale, Ill., and David Fish of Boca Raton, Fla.  Qualifying via a sudden-death playoff were Matt Lehl of Woodstock, Ill., John Helmsdoerfer of Westerville, Ohio, Alexander Cook of Chesterton, Ind., Alex Wagner of Saint Charles, Ill., Mark Olson of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Michael Cermak of Chicago.

White, 16, managed only one three-putt on the day, on her way to carding a 1-over-par 73.  White was able to hit her irons well and felt fairly comfortable on a course which is only 45 minutes from her home.

“It feels good to qualify,” said White, who placed tied for 12th at this year’s AJGA Windy City Junior.  “I was able to hold it together and playing well this week will be a big thing for me.”

White knows Rich Harvest Links will play tougher and she will need to continue her strong iron play.

“It will be tough, but I am looking forward to playing in the tournament,” she said.

Also qualifying in the Girls Division was Alexandra Lederhausen of Hinsdale, Ill., and Beth Weinstein of Highland Park, Ill.  Lederhausen finished her day at 4-over-par 76 and Weinstein was one stroke back at 5-over-par 77.

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 a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

For more information about the Midwest Junior Championship at Rich Harvest Links, please contact the AJGA Tournament Headqurters at (630) 466-7610.