Hossler and Seramin Tied After First Round of Trader Joe's Junior Championship
Nhim sits atop the Girls Division at Castlewood Country Club

Pleasanton, Calif. — Beau Hossler of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and Matthew Seramin of San Geronimo, Calif., each fired a 3-under-par 67 to tie for the first place position in the first round of the Trader Joe's Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst. Kristina Nhim of Buena Park, Calif., carded an even-par 70 to grab the top spot in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Trader Joe's Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst is a 54-hole stroke-play event held at Castlewood Country Club on the Hill Course. The 99-player field features 72 boys and 27 girls, ages 12-18, from ten states, Canada, China, Mexico and the Philippines. The Boys Division is playing the par-70 course from 6,197 yards and the Girls Division is playing from 5,529 yards.

Hossler played a steady round, making pars where he needed, and taking advantage of the less difficult holes. He tallied four birdies for the round and only one bogey.

“My round wasn't too exciting; but I was consistent throughout the day and able to make easy pars,” Hossler said. “I need to work on hitting the ball closer when I have birdie opportunities in the fairway.”

Seramin is excited to being leading in what is one of his last junior golf events, as he will be attending UC Davis in the fall. For the second year in a row, Seramin is leading after the first round of the Trader Joe's Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst. He came off the front nine at 4-under-par, but bogeyed Nos. 13, 15 and 17 to finish in a tie with Hossler.

“I started the day strong with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 and again on Nos. 7 and 8,” Seramin said. “I lost my momentum on the back nine, but I know if stay patient tomorrow I can shoot low again.”

Three players are tied for third in the Boys Division. Matt Crawford of Redwood City, Calif., Alex Angard of Encino, Calif., and Justin Pagila of Dublin, Calif., all carded a 2-under-par 68.

In the Girls Division, Nhim leads by one stroke heading into the second round. Finishing the first nine at 2-over-par, Nhim quickly turned things around with a birdie on No. 10. She also carded birdies on Nos. 13 and 18.

“I didn't start well today but I was able to hit more greens on the back nine so I made up some strokes,” Nhim said. “Tomorrow I want to remain steady and keep playing my irons well.”

In a tie for second place in the Girls Division are Marika Liu of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Somin Lee of Denver at 1-over-par 71.

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.

For more information about the Trader Joe's Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (770) 601-5196.