Otte III Leads After First Round of Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions
Erynne Lee jumps out to a three-shot lead at Traditions Golf Club at Texas A&M

BRYAN, Texas — Paul Otte III of Austin, Texas, shot an opening-round 2-under-par 70 Friday to take the lead by one stroke in the Boys Division at the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions. Erynne Lee of Silverdale, Wash., fired a 3-under-par 69, giving her a three-stroke lead in the Girls Division.

The Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at the Traditions Golf Club at Texas A&M in Bryan, Texas. The tournament field boasts 89 boys and 42 girls, ages 12-18, from 21 states, Canada, Guatemala, South Africa and Mexico. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,000 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,159 yards. Following the second round, the tournament field will be cut to 45 boys and 21 girls, including ties.

Otte III, 18, had only one blemish on his card all day, finishing with three birdies and one bogey. Having played the Traditions Club at Texas A&M several times, he was familiar with the terrain. Otte III credited his impressive round to his ability to block out the distractions on the course.

“I didn't think too much out there,” Otte III said. “I didn't try to take anything the course didn't give me. I really liked the way I played today, but I've still got two more rounds to go.”

David Lee of Houston, and Dylan Siebenaler of Sugar Land, Texas, are one shot behind Otte III at 1-under-par 71. Sam Fidone of Lufkin, Texas, Jordan Karam of Lake Charles, La., and Nicholas Torrance of Bradenton, Fla., are tied for fourth at even-par 72.

In the Girls Division, Erynne Lee is no stranger to the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions. She has finished second the last two years and enters the tournament as one of the top-ranked girls in the field. Great iron play vaulted her to a three shot lead, as she hit 16 greens.

“My iron shots were really accurate, which helped me a lot through the day,” said Erynne, a two-time Rolex Junior All-American. “I also sank a couple birdie putts which helped as well. It would mean a lot to win this tournament.”

Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai of Bradenton, Fla., is three shots behind Erynne in second place. Tied for third are Portland Rosen of Sugar Land, Texas, and Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., at 1-over-par 73.

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 30 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 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Second-round tee times will run from 8:15 — 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 — 2:15 p.m. Saturday, April 3, off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Traditions Golf Club at Texas A&M. For more information about the Laredo Energy Junior at Traditions, please contact tournament headquarters at (979) 779-2127.