JASON LOUTH'S 3-UNDER-PAR 69 ENOUGH FOR FIRST-ROUND LEAD
Mary Ellen Grzebien leads Girls Division with sister Anna and Sukjin Lee close behind

SWAINTON, N.J. - Jason Louth of Victoria, Texas, fired a 3-under-par 69 Tuesday at the AJGA Sand Barrens Junior Championship to take the Boys Division lead by two strokes. In the Girls Division, Mary Ellen Grzebien of Saunderstown, R.I., came in with an even-par 72 to gain a one-shot edge over her sister Anna and Sukjin Lee of Toms River, N.J.

The third annual 54-hole boys and girls event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 90 of the top junior golfers in the country. Twenty-three states and Canada are represented in this year's field.

Playing conservatively and hitting fairways and greens was the key to low scores according to Louth and Grzebien. Navigating the tight fairways and more than 25 acres of bunkers at Sand Barrens Golf Club proved to be a challenge for the entire field.

"I didn't give myself many chances to make bogey," Louth said of his 35-34-69 bogey-free round. "But I did give myself a lot of chances to make birdies. Luckily, a few went in."

Mary Ellen Grzebien, a Polo Golf Junior All-American, attributed her 38-34-72 to intelligent play, as well. She never took her driver out of her bag and focused on keeping the ball in play and out of the looming bunkers.

"The shorter course set up well for me," Grzebien said. "I just stayed in the fairways and the center of the greens all day. Staying out of trouble is key."

Sean Seese of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., carded a 1-under-par 71 to end the round in second place in the Boys Division. Six players are knotted in third at even-par 72.

In the Girls Division, Anna Grzebien, Mary Ellen's younger sister, is tied for second with Sukjin Lee with a 1-over-par 73.

Second-round action will begin Wednesday, June 13, at 7 a.m. at Sand Barrens Golf Club. For more information, contact AJGA headquarters at (609) 465-3929 or visit our Web site at www.ajga.org.

SWAINTON, N.J. -- First-round results from the AJGA SAND BARRENS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Sand Barrens Golf Club, West-North Courses. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,842; Girls: 5,800.

BOYS DIVISION

Jason Louth, Victoria, Texas* 35-34--69
Sean Seese, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.* 35-36--71
David Dankmyer, Gibsonia, Pa.* 36-36--72
Billy Stewart, Devon, Pa.* 36-36--72
Tully Coyle, Charlotte, N.C.* 36-36--72
Robby Walizer, State College, Pa.* 37-35--72
Blaine Peffley, Lebanon, Pa.* 35-37--72
Alex Knoll, Bethlehem, Pa.* 39-33--72
David Lane, Fairfield, Conn.* 36-37--73
Tyler Witman, Rehoboth, Del.* 36-37--73
Jarred Texter, Washington Boro, Pa.* 38-35--73
Michael Ciccarelli, Commack, N.Y.* 36-37--73
Benjamin Spitz, Norwell, Mass.* 39-35--74
Del Thebaud, Severna Park, Md.* 37-38--75
Stefan Wistorf, Niceville, Fla.* 37-38--75
David Nardy, Southampton, N.Y.* 39-36--75
Peter Riddell, Pointe Claire, Quebec* 40-35--75
John-Tyler Griffin, Wilson, N.C.* 38-37--75
Tarik Can, New York, N.Y.* 39-36--75
Aaron Anderson, Fargo, N.D.* 37-38--75
Zack Amole, Denver, Pa.* 38-38--76
Brian Ricketts, Highland Village, Texas* 38-38--76
Ryan Fraser, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.* 37-39--76
Devin Milowe, Voorhees, N.J.* 40-36--76
Greg Rodgers, Phoenix, Md.* 38-38--76
John Raser, Lake Mary, Fla.* 40-36--76
Joe April, Sewell, N.J.* 39-37--76
Gary Barton Jr., Staten Island, N.Y.* 36-40--76
Dan Walters, Landisville, Pa.* 36-40--76
Mark Zbrzeznj, Lafayette Hill, Pa.* 36-40--76
Tim Hamm, Schenectady, N.Y.* 36-41--77
John Browndorf, Rumson, N.J.* 40-37--77
Jeff Osberg, Chester Springs, Pa.* 38-39--77
John Sawin, Haverford, Pa.* 40-37--77
Jonathan Killion, Long Valley, N.J.* 38-39--77
Devin Drobbin, Holmdel, N.J.* 39-38--77
Matt Rounds, Tuscon, Ariz.* 38-39--77
Brian Belden, Emmaus, Pa.* 39-38--77
Logan Riester, Pittsburgh, Pa.* 36-42--78
Steve Burke, Keswick, Va.* 41-37--78
Billy Suh, Fairfax, Va.* 36-42--78
David Grossman, Linwood, N.J.* 38-40--78
Ryan Owens, Ocean City, N.J.* 39-39--78
Steve Grise, Simsbury, Conn.* 40-38--78
Raman Luthra, East Amherst, N.Y.* 43-36--79
Matt Heath, Troy, N.H.* 39-40--79
Ryan Jordan, Medford, N.J.* 40-39--79
Kyle McGrady, Manasquan, N.J.* 42-38--80
Adam DeSilva, Victor, N.Y.* 43-37--80
Michael Lombardi, Atlantic Highlands, N.J.* 42-38--80
Greg Pieczynski, Kingston, Pa.* 40-40--80
Kyle Romig, Uniontown, Ohio* 40-40--80
William Sirignano, Waccabuc, N.Y.* 41-40--81
Alex Brueggemann, Bel Air, Md.* 38-43--81
Ryan McCarty, Voorhees, N.J.* 42-39--81
Seth Hirschhorn, Willingboro, N.J.* 41-41--82
Todd Brown, Fogelsville, Pa.* 41-41--82
Joe Parker III, Hockessin, Del.* 42-40--82
Zachary Snyder, Pittsburgh, Pa.* 44-38--82
Charles Deluca, Loudonville, N.Y.* 42-40--82
Drew Anders, Mt. Laurel, N.J.* 40-42--82
Kyle Hartlaub, Summit, N.J.* 43-39--82
John Jaravata, Brick, N.J.* 39-43--82
Justin Sharaf, Danvers, Mass.* 39-43--82
Derek Oakey, La Grange, Ga.* 43-40--83
Tom Carter IV, Sicklerville, N.J.* 41-42--83
Joseph Noah, Closter, N.J.* 39-45--84
Mike Lebow, Royersford, Pa.* 42-42--84
Chris Baloga, Baltimore, Md.* 43-43--86
John Fizer, Trenton, N.J.* 41-45--86
Scott Chisholm, Essex Fells, N.J.* 46-41--87
Scott Peper, Grandview, N.Y.* 44-43--87
Andrew Turker, Dunedin, Fla.* 41-46--87
Jimmy Crandell, Chatham, N.J.* 48-48--96
Blake McKie, Severna Park, Md.* 45-52-97

GIRLS DIVISION

Mary Ellen Grzebien, Saunderstown, R.I.* 38-34--72
Anna Grzebien, Saunderstown, R.I.* 38-35--73
Sukjin Lee, Toms River, N.J.* 36-37--73
Elizabeth Janangelo, West Hartford, Conn.* 37-38--75
Kristen White, Doylestown, Pa.* 37-39--76
Katie Miller, Jeannette, Pa.* 40-37--77
Jeehae Lee, Andover, Mass.* 39-39--78
Ashley Grier, Hagerstown, Md.* 40-39--79
Jenny Suh, Fairfax, Va.* 43-36--79
Dayna Burleigh, Horsham, Pa.* 41-39--80
Christy Larrimore, Severna Park, Md.* 37-43--80
Sasha Suzuki, Fort Lee, N.J.* 43-40--83
Mayule Tomimbang, Clifton, N.J.* 41-43--84
Kaitlyn Johnston, Bel Air, Md.* 43-44--87
Tarah Schloss, Bloomsburg, Pa.* 39-50--89