Lee Continues Success at Aspen Junior Golf Classic
Kasten takes a three-stroke lead in first round
ASPEN, Colo. — Corbin Kasten of Southlake, Texas, carded a 3-under-par 68 to take a three-shot lead heading into the second round of the Aspen Junior Golf Classic. In the Girls Division, last year's champion Patricia Lee of Lone Tree, Colo., finished her first round with a 2-under-par 69 to take the lead going into Wednesday's second round.
The Aspen Junior Golf Classic is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at the Aspen Golf Club in Aspen, Colo. The tournament field includes 72 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 states and four countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-71 course at 7,092 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,012 yards.
After a one-hour frost delay to start off the first round, Kasten came out hot, crediting his 3-under-par to his drives and short puts. This was Kasten's first appearance at this tournament, and said the par-3 No. 3 was the turning point in his round.
“I came in just wanting to have fun,” Kasten said. “I plan on doing the same thing tomorrow; I just need to work on my longer puts.”
Camden Nierman of Scottsdale, Ariz., came in second with an even-par 71 while PJ Collier of Houston, shot a 1-over-par 72 to take third for the day. Simon Miller of Albuquerque, N.M., Gabriel Ormachea of Aventura, Fla., Chris Aiken of Cortez, Colo., Kolton Lapa of Mesa, Ariz., and Thayer White of Santa Barbara, Calif., all tied for fourth each carding a 2-over-par 73 during the first round.
Lee carried her success from last year's victory by taking this a 4-shot lead in the first round. She attributes her success to her putting and plans on going into Wednesday's round with a clean slate.
“I'm just going to tell myself I have an advantage because I've played it [Aspen Golf Club] a couple times,” Lee said. “Last year I won, so I'm just going to tell myself it's an advantage.”
In second place in the Girls Division is Alexandra Wong of San Francisco, who shot a 2-over-par 73. Rounding off the top three with a 3-over-par 74 was Mikayla Harmon of Gilbert, Ariz.
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, 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.
Tee times for the second round of the Aspen Junior Golf Classic will be delayed one hour and will begin at 8 a.m. For more information about the Aspen Junior Golf Classic, please contact tournament headquarters at (678) 386-1487, or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.
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