STEADY PLAY HELPS GRAHEK LEAD BOYS DIVISION AT OAKWOOD CLUB
Canada native leads Girls Division following first round with 4-over-par 75

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – Thick rough was to blame for many lost balls at the Oakwood Club Wednesday, but Patrick Grahek of Alpharetta, Ga., was able to hold his game steady to lead the Boys Division with a 3-under-par 68. Augusta James of Tamworth, Ontario, leads the Girls Division at 4-over-par 75.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Medicus Junior All-Star at Oakwood’s first round was postponed due to weather conditions Tuesday. The tournament was changed to a 36-hole stroke play event with the first round beginning Wednesday. The tournament field consists of 99 players, 75 boys and 24 girls from 22 states and Canada. The course is being played as a par-71. The Boys Division is playing Oakwood Club at 6,509 yards and the Girls Division at 5,822 yards.

Grahek started his round with a three-putt bogey on the par-5 first hole, but kept a good mindset to overcome the mishap. Back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 helped him to an even-par 36 on the front nine. Four birdies on the back nine led to six total birdies on the day, helping him to have fun and relax while finishing the round.

“I struck the ball well and putted well while still leaving a couple out there,” he said. “I played safely and conservatively and I think my score shows that today.”

At 1-under-par 70, Denny McCarthy of Burtonsville, Md., carded two birdies and a bogey to finish the day in second. Tied for third are Motin Yeung of Orlando, Fla., and Andrew Wong of Deerfield Beach, Fla., with rounds of even-par 71. Rounding out the top five is Garrett Browning of Coraopolis, Pa., at 1-over-par 72.

In the Girls Division, James came into her second AJGA event after working hard on putting for the past few weeks. Although it took her a few holes to get a hold on it, she was able to start dropping longer putts throughout the day.

“I had a couple of birdies but nothing really huge today,” James said.  “Tomorrow I want to go for more flagsticks and have some more birdie opportunities.”

Rounding out the top three is Hannah Pierce of King George, Va., who is one shot back of James in second at 5-over-par 76. Morgan Ransom of Blacklick, Ohio, is two shots back of Pierce in third at 7-over-par 78.

Medicus Golf and The Medicus Golf Institute are dedicated to enabling all golfers to “Live Their Vision” in reaching their potential. By expanding its corporate vision, mission, products and services, Medicus Golf will enable golfers to learn and grow — both as a person and as a player — in a series of new and exciting developmental formats.

Medicus Golf enters its third year of sponsorship of the AJGA by supporting the Medicus Preseason Series. The Medicus Learning System, a comprehensive series of golf training aids, is dedicated to assisting golfers of all ages.

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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 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, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

Final-round tee times for the Medicus Junior All-Star at Oakwood will run from 7 – 11:48 a.m. off the No. 1 tee Thursday. For more information please contact Tournament Director Lauren Shelly or tournament headquarters at 770-298-4411 or visit the AJGA Web site, ajga.org.

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