Humphrey Shines in the First Round of the Junior All-Star at Penn State
White uses steady play to lead the Girls Division on the Blue Course at the Penn State Golf Courses

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — On a day that saw 10 rounds at even-par or better, Theo Humphrey of Greenwich, Conn., set the pace in the first group of the day as he carded a 6-under-par 66. In the Girls Division, Alexandra White of Honolulu, Hawaii, shot 3-over-par 75 to sit atop the leaderboard after the first round.

The Junior All-Star at Penn State is one of 10 events in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. Specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series presents opportunities for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into AJGA Open tournaments. The Series concludes with the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

The Junior All-Star at Penn State is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at the Penn State Golf Courses — Blue Course. The 142-player field features 110 boys and 32 girls, ages 12-18, from 20 states, Canada and Thailand. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,709 yards while the Girls Division is playing at 5,970 yards.

While a 66 might create excitement and expectations for many golfers, Humphrey is staying focused on what the rest of the week has to offer. He will try to remain calm throughout the week and play consistent enough to stay in contention.

“I would love to go out and shoot 66 tomorrow, but I would be happy with anything right around par to be able to stay right in there,” Humphrey said.

Humphrey was able to control his driver enough to stay out of trouble and used a solid iron game and 27 total putts to lead after the first round in only his second AJGA event. He took advantage of the par-5s by shooting a combined 4-under on those holes, highlighted by an eagle on No. 5.

“I was really good out of the rough and putted well today,” Humphrey said. “On this course, I was able to make up some strokes on the par-5s which is always a plus.”

Ian Holt of Stow, Ohio, sits alone in second place after firing a 3-under-par 69. Tied for third place at 2-under-par 70 are Matthew Beringer of Macon, Ga., and Tommy Nettles of McMurray, Pa. Colton Wiggins of Indiana, Pa., rounds out the Boys Division top 5 with a 1-under-par 71.

White used a similar combination of solid iron play and a hot putter to see her name at the top of the scoreboard. She hit 13 greens and used two back-nine birdies to finish the day off strong. She tries not to let a score on a certain hole change her emotions.

“I don't want to get caught up in a birdie or a bogey,” White said. “I never know exactly what I'm shooting. I just go out and play my best and not worry too much about the scores.”

In a four-way tie for second at 4-over-par 76 are Lindsey Murray of Tipp City, Ohio, Abby Lim of Tenafly, N.J., August Kim of Searingtown, N.Y., and Chayanid Prapassarangkul of Bangkok, Thailand.

GARY GILCHRIST GOLF ACADEMY, a full-time signature golf instruction program with campuses located in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., and in Arroyo Grande, Calif., began as an Official Partner of the AJGA in 2009. The partnership features an endowment of an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant and the naming rights to the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series, which provides juniors from ages 12-15, access to national competitive golf opportunities.

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 for the Junior All-Star at Penn State will run from 7:30 a.m. — 9:09 a.m. and noon — 1:39 p.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at the Penn State Golf Courses — Blue Course. For more information about the Junior All-Star at Penn State please contact Tournament Director Julie Kickbusch at (814) 865-4653.