AJGA PRESEASON JUNIOR AT JEKYLL ISLAND
Jekyll Island Resort, Oleander Course
Jekyll Island, Ga.
February 23-25, 2001

SURI SURGES TO FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT JEKYLL ISLAND

Sung Back shoots 69 to stay one stroke off the lead going into the final round

Jekyll Island, Ga. - Tommy Suri of Miami, fired a four-under-par 68 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Sung Back of Rossville, Ga., at the AJGA Preseason Junior at Jekyll Island.

The 36-hole stroke play tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, is being held on the par-72 Oleander Course at Jekyll Island Resort.

Suri, a 16-year-old sophomore at Columbus High School in Miami, recorded five birdies on his way to grabbing the first-round lead.

"I played a solid round and only hit one bad shot today," said Suri. "I am happy to have the opportunity to compete in this event. Tomorrow, I want to play smart, finish strong and see what happens."

Back, a 17-year-old sophomore at Lakeview High School, used five birdies to record his three-under-par 69. By breaking par, Suri and Back both accomplished something only one player did at last year's Jekyll Island event.

"I have practiced hard all winter and thought I would compete well today," said Back. "This event is the first step in reaching my goal of playing a national caliber schedule this year."

Matt Lawson of Peachtree City, Ga., and Drake Bailey of Hollywood, Ala., are tied for third with even-par 72's, while Brian Harman of Savannah, Ga., and Colin Floyd of Loris, S.C., are tied for fifth with 73's.

The Jekyll Island event is the first of three Preseason Junior Series events conducted by the AJGA in 2001. The tournaments are aimed specifically at players who have tried, but have been unsuccessful in gaining entry into an AJGA tournament in the past. The AJGA has developed this series as an avenue for more members to earn playing opportunities at the national level and gain exposure for college golf scholarships.

The winner of this event will be automatically accepted into three AJGA events, the top five finishers and ties will be accepted into two AJGA events, while the top 15 finishers and ties will be accepted into one AJGA tournament.

Final-round tee times will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:27 a.m. off the No. 1 and 10 tees on Sunday.

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. -- First-round results from the AJGA PRESEASON JUNIOR AT JEKYLL ISLAND conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Jekyll Island Resort, Oleander Course. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,581

BOYS DIVISION

Tommy Suri, Miami, Fla.* 34-34--68

Sung Back, Rossville, Ga.* 34-35--69

Matt Lawson, Peachtree City, Ga.* 33-39--72

Drake Bailey, Hollywood, Ala.* 37-35--72

Brian Harman, Savannah, Ga.* 36-37--73

Colin Floyd, Loris, S.C.* 34-39--73

Raman Luthra, East Amherst, N.Y.* 36-38--74

Ryan Holler, Morehead City, N.C.* 33-41--74

Wesley Hodges, St. Simons Island, Ga.* 36-38--74

Chris McCartin, Arlington, Va.* 38-37--75

Matthew Lyons, Lakeland, Fla.* 37-38--75

Chris Smith, Orlando, Fla.* 38-37--75

Christopher, Towery Greer, S.C.* 37-38--75

Bryan Rozier, Acworth, Ga.* 38-37--75

Josey Cameron, Swainsboro, Ga.* 41-34--75

Chip Wedgeworth, Hilton Head Island, S.C.* 38-38--76

Charles Keener, Jacksonville, Fla.* 40-36--76

Kellen Altman, Myrtle Beach, S.C.* 38-38--76

Michael Stiller, Cambridge, Mass.* 34-42--76

Ben Spickard, Roswell, Ga.* 38-38--76

Mark Anderson, Beaufort, S.C.* 39-38--77

Kelly Huff, Lilburn, Ga.* 40-37--77

Joey Childers, Elgin, Ill.* 37-40--77

Richard Lowe, Johnson City, Tenn.* 35-42--77

Stefan Wistorf, Niceville, Fla.* 40-37--77

Dustin Howard, Douglas, Ga.* 38-39--77

Sam Audia, Huntsville, Ala.* 37-40--77

Chris Condello, Longwood, Fla.* 35-42--77

Dustin Barr, Mooresville, N.C.* 36-41--77

Brett Marler, Mobile, Ala.* 36-41--77

Drew Bowen, Monroe, Ga.* 39-38--77

Eric Dodd, Greensboro, Ga.* 40-37--77

Clayton Gamber III, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.* 37-41--78

Jay Moseley, Bainbridge, Ga.* 39-39--78

Brad Callahan, Charlotte, N.C.* 37-41--78

Josh Thackerson, Earl, N.C.* 39-39--78

Steven Rogers, Bowling Green, Ky.* 40-38--78

Thomas Skelton III, Clemson, S.C.* 36-42--78

Matthew Mincer, Lenoir City, Tenn.* 38-40--78

Clay Willis, Wilson, N.C.* 38-41--79

John Saari, Lilburn, Ga.* 42-37--79

Thomas Smith, Harriman, Tenn.* 40-39-79

Chris Dukes, Kissimmee, Fla.* 39-40--79

Cole Stiles, Athens, Ga.* 41-38--79

J.D. Bass, Fairview, N.C.* 41-38--79

Del Thebaud, Severna Park, Md.* 39-40--79

Joshua Carr, Orlando, Fla.* 40-39--79

Garrett Runion, Orlando, Fla.* 41-38--79

Stuart Buckley, Roswell, Ga.* 41-39--80

Jonathan Pauli, St. Johns, Mich.* 41-39--80

David Gibson, Stuart, Fla.* 39-41--80

Kyle Collins, Milledgeville, Ga.* 39-42--81

Mark Christman, Duluth, Ga.* 37-44--81

Brice Schweitzer, Knoxville, Tenn.* 42-39--81

Cullen Toole, Newnan, Ga.* 41-40--81

John Bovay, Gainesville, Fla.* 43-38--81

Matthew Reed, Cartersville, Ga.* 43-38--81

Jason Parker, Spartanburg, S.C.* 39-43--82

Dustin Craney, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.* 39-43--82

Thomas Hagler IV, Ringgold, Ga.* 39-43--82

Kyle Stiles, Athens, Ga.* 42-40--82

Alex McNeel, Mount Pleasant, S.C.* 40-42--82

Ben Hartman, Jupiter, Fla.* 40-42--82

Bill Menard, Agawam, Mass.* 43-40--83

Brandon Katzeff, Uniontown, Pa.* 41-42--83

Devin Milowe, Voorhees, N.J.* 37-46--83

Robbie Ufford, Roswell, Ga.* 41-42--83

Tyler Wilson, Lexington, Ky.* 40-44--84

Matt Henderson, Greenwood Village, Colo.* 43-41--84

Enobong Udo, Greenwood, S.C.* 40-44--84

Austin Swanger, Titusville, Fla.* 40-44--84

Michael Belich, West Allis, Wis.* 43-41--84

Pete Kampmann, Riverside, Conn.* 43-42--85

Mike Gaffin, Kentwood, Mich.* 43-43--86

Todd Coggins, Gaffney, S.C.* 44-43--87

Winston Ball, St. Pete Beach, Fla.* 46-42--88

Paul Humbert, Miami, Fla.* 43-45--88

Andrew Davidson, Windermere, Fla.* 44-45--89

Lance Adicks, St. Matthews, S.C.* 46-43--89

John Veith, Lexington, Ky.* 45-46--91

David Baker Jr., Alpharetta, Ga.* 46-46--92

Josh Smith, Savannah, Ga.* 44-48--92

Conor Mintzer, Berwyn, Pa.* 46-49--95

Nick Marsee, Lancaster, Ky.* 54-49--103