Pennsylvania Pair Finishes Strong at Basking Ridge Country Club
Martin, Rogowicz claim medalist honors at Preseason Junior at Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Two Pennsylvania natives claimed medalist honors this weekend at the Preseason Junior at Basking Ridge. Kyle Martin of Ambler, Pa., shot a 72 during his final round to bring his tournament total to a 3-over-par 145. Jackie Rogowicz of Yardley, Pa., fired a 76 during her final round to secure her medal in the Girls Division with a 12-over-par 154 tournament total.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Preseason Junior at Basking Ridge was a 36-hole stroke play competition held on the par-71 Basking Ridge Country Club Course. The Boys Division played the course at 6,568 yards while the Girls Division played at 5,625 yards. The 96-player field featured players from 13 states, Canada, Norway, Russia and South Korea.

Martin, who started the final round three shots back, struggled early in the day and bogeyed three of his first four holes, but gained his composure with a birdie on No. 5.

“My goal for today was to make par on every hole,” Martin said. “I just wanted to stay even as much as possible. My birdie on No. 5 really helped change my momentum for the rest of the round.”

Martin recuperated and stuck true to his goal by making par on nine holes during the final round. He also birdied four holes, but credits his putting for his medalist honors.

“My putting really saved me,” Martin said. “There were some really difficult hole locations and I just tried to keep my golf ball from rolling off the green too much.”

Finishing in second place was first-round leader Jimmy Dengler of Rumson, N.J., with a 5-over-par 147. In third place was Ryan Wessel of Mahopac, N.Y., after posting a 7-over-par 149. Luke Graboyes, of Watchung, N.J., finished in fourth with a 9-over-par 151. Rounding out the Boys Division in fifth place was Thomas La Morte of Haworth, N.J., with a 10-over-par 152.

Rogowicz, who also trailed the first-round leader by three strokes heading into the final round, said she wanted to win from the beginning.

“This was my first AJGA event and I have a full summer of golf ahead of me,” Rogowicz said. “I am really looking forward to playing more golf, especially at the AJGA Philadelphia Open Championship in Huntingdon Valley.”

Rogowicz also made par on nine holes and had birdies on Nos. 1, 6, and 7, but particularly enjoyed No. 8.

“No. 8 is a really tough hole,” Rogowicz said. “It is a tight tee shot and there are lots of trees that overhang in the fairway, but I really enjoyed it.”

After Rogowicz hit her tee shot to the right on No. 8, she was able to find the putting green on her second shot. Then, Rogowicz two-putted to make par on the hole.

First-round leader Brooke LaRue of Topeka, Kan., finished in second place with a 17-over-par 159. Vinh-Hop Ngo of Newton, Mass., carded a 20-over-par 162 to round out the Girls Division in third place.

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 AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 40 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For more information about the Preseason Junior at Basking Ridge, please contact AJGA National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.