Following his opening-day 66, Ball concluded stroke play qualifying at 9-under 135. Local Ashton Newsom of Chesapeake posted rounds of 71-70 for a 3-under 141 aggregate to earn the second seed. Fincastle’s Korey Watts answered his first day 76 by equaling Ball’s low single round of this year’s championship of six under to secure the third seed. Martinsville’s Jack Adkins, a finalist at the ’09 Junior Match, and Williamsburg’s Trevor Times completed the top five seeds.

Ball had a terrific ball-striking day, registering seven birdies against one bogey; his longest birdie putt of the day was 6 feet. The ’09 VSGA Junior Amateur champion, Ball birdied the first hole and three of the first five, capping his early surge by chipping in from just off the putting surface at the par-4 fifth hole.

“I hit it really close today and I had a lot of confidence with my irons. I just kept sticking ’em,” said Ball, who will be a sophomore at St. Christopher’s School in the fall.

Ball birdied the par-5 ninth to turn in four under and answered his only bogey of the day at No. 10, with three consecutive birdies at Nos. 13-15 – all within 5 feet. After admittedly struggling with his game at last week’s North-South Junior, Ball said “he didn’t know what to expect” entering the Junior Match. His confidence was quickly buoyed when he birdied the first hole during opening round action and his stellar play has continued, collecting 12 birdies in 36 holes of stroke play qualifying.

Ball says his assertive approach won’t change entering Thursday’s opening round of match play.

“I’m going to go out and play like I’ve been playing the last two days and not think too much,” he said. “I’m just going to play and do what I do best.”

At the conclusion of stroke play qualifying, five competitors at 1-over 145 vied for the final two spots in the match play field with Roanoke’s Alex Taylor and ’09 event semifinalist Dylan Jensen of Ridgeway earning the two spots.     

The opening round of match play and the quarterfinals take place on Thursday, June 24 followed by the semifinals and scheduled 18-hole final on Friday, June 25.

SUFFOLK –– Results from the second round of stroke play qualifying at the 20th VSGA Junior Match Play Championship at Nansemond River Golf Club (6,679 yards, par 36-36—72) on Wednesday, June 23.

Adam Ball (Richmond), 69-66—135

Ashton Newsom (Chesapeake), 71-70—141

Korey Watts (Fincastle), 76-66—142

Jack Adkins (Martinsville), 71-71—142

Trevor Times (Williamsburg), 72-71—143

Maclain Huge (Lovettsville), 75-69—144

Drew Lagan (Roanoke), 75-69—144

Rick O'Connell (Goochland), 73-71—144

Ben Meadows (Williamsburg), 72-72—144

Brandon Grogan (Martinsville), 71-73—144

Tim Ritter (Centreville), 71-73—144

Alex Lloyd (Virginia Beach), 70-74—144

Blake Carter (Bassett), 71-73—144

Bryce Cope (Virginia Beach), 69-75—144

* – Alex Taylor (Roanoke), 74-71—145

* – Dylan Jensen (Ridgeway), 69-76—145

-DID NOT QUALIFY FOR MATCH PLAY-

Jason Park (Midlothian), 74-71—145

Jeremy Carrell (Prince George), 73-72—145

Jason Schumacher (Glen Allen), 72-73—145

Connor Walters (Salem), 76-70—146

Brad Elder (Roanoke), 75-71—146

Andrew Brenneman II (Leesburg), 75-71—146

Bandar Alsaif (Great Falls), 72-74—146

John Dawson (Chesapeake), 72-74—146

Justin Roberto (Williamsburg), 80-67—147

Landon Weis (Charlottesville), 71-76—147

Trip Bose (Norfolk), 76-72—148

Wesley Liu (Herndon), 77-71—148

Nick Shedd (Williamsburg), 78-70—148

Samuel Jones (Blacksburg), 75-74—149

Dawson Hobbs (Midlothian), 75-74—149

Taylor Stagg (Midlothian), 74-75—149

Patrick Leisure (Crozet), 77-72—149

Harrison Baker (Providence Forge), 73-76—149

Trey Smith (Virginia Beach), 73-76—149
Bryan Carter (Yorktown), 75-75—150

Ryan Hatcher (Chesapeake), 76-74—150

Robert Saltzer (Chesapeake), 76-74—150

Griffin Clark (Colonial Heights), 77-73—150

Harrison Vance (Richmond), 73-77—150

John David Sanderson (Suffolk), 76-75—151

Erik Ruce (Arlington), 74-77—151

Zack Lauzon (Woodbridge), 76-76—152

Tony Liu (Charlottesville), 75-77—152

Evan Childress (Charlottesville), 77-75—152

Alex O'Dell (Crozet), 78-74—152

Zack Henry (Front Royal), 81-71—152

Thomas Cave (Chantilly), 76-77—153

Josh Neal (Rocky Mount), 75-79—154
Cameron Young (Richmond), 76-78—154
Jimmy Hewitt (Williamsburg), 76-78—154
Chas Bassing (Great Falls), 78-76—154
Michael Barber (Newport News), 78-76—154
Ben Leon (Virginia Beach), 77-78—155
Brock Cox (Galax), 77-78—155

Andrew Kowal (Glen Allen), 77-78—155

Davis Whitmer (Charlottesville), 74-81—155
Preston Leigh (Suffolk), 78-77—155
Taylor Dichiara (Chesapeake), 77-79—156
Connor Hill (Richmond), 77-79—156

Nick Funk (Williamsburg), 79-77—156
Michael Swope (Richmond), 80-76—156
Kent Brewton (Virginia Beach), 79-78—157
Trey Cully (Ashland), 69-88—157
Michael Ettel (Virginia Beach), 76-82—158
Ryan Rettberg (Front Royal), 74-84—158
Ryan McLean (Newport News), 80-78—158
Brandon Gray (Kempsville), 78-80—158
Ben Ryalls (Charlottesville), 78-81—159
Zack Robb (Hayes), 79-80—159
Colin McAleer (Chesapeake), 81-79—160
Tyler Rutherford (Independence), 75-87—162

Timmy Earley (Ashland), 79-83—162
Nick Lotuaco IV (Virginia Beach), 81-84—165

Christian Rivera (Norfolk), 80-DNS

* – Denotes qualified for match play in extra holes, four golfers for two spots.

SUFFOLK –– Groupings and starting times for the first round of match play at the 20th VSGA Junior Match Play Championship at Nansemond River Golf Club (6,679 yards, par 36-36—72) on Thursday, June 24.

Hole No. 1

8 a.m.: (1) Adam Ball (Richmond) vs. (16) Alex Taylor (Roanoke)

8:08 a.m.: (8) Ben Meadows (Williamsburg) vs. (9) Drew Lagan (Roanoke)

8:16 a.m.: (4) Jack Adkins (Martinsville) vs. (13) Maclain Huge (Lovettsville)

8:24 a.m.: (5) Trevor Times (Williamsburg) vs. (12) Bryce Cope (Virginia Beach)

8:32 a.m.: (2) Ashton Newsom (Chesapeake) vs. (15) Dylan Jensen (Ridgeway)

8:40 a.m.: (7) Brandon Grogan (Martinsville) vs. (10) Tim Ritter (Centreville)

8:48 a.m.: (3) Korey Watts (Buchanan) vs. (14) Rick O'Connell (Goochland)

8:56 a.m.: (6) Alex Lloyd (Virginia Beach) vs. (11) Blake Carter (Bassett)