Titsworth sets low first-round record at the Cleveland Junior Open
12-year-old Mika Liu leads the Girls Division at Red Tail Golf Club
Avon, Ohio — Beau Titsworth of Avon Lake, Ohio, carded a first round 8-under-par 64 in the Cleveland Junior Open, breaking the low first round record for the tournament. In the Girls Division, 12-year-old Mika Liu of Bradenton, Fla., fired a 1-under-par 71 taking a one shot lead into Wednesday's second round.
The Cleveland Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Red Tail Golf Club in Avon, Ohio. The tournament field includes 69 boys and 27 girls, ages 12-18 from 15 states, Canada and Thailand. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,937 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,072 yards.
Titsworth broke the record for low first round at the event by two strokes, breaking a record set in 2009 by Patrick Rodgers of Avon, Ind., and Zachary Bates of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The Ohio-native knocked down eight birdies en route to his bogey-free, 8-under-par 64. He gives credit to his putter and club selections for his record setting first round success.
“I'm happy,” Titsworth said. “I just wanted to get off to a good start. It's a good feeling to know that people have something to chase and that it's my name.”
Mitchell Homb of Dixon, Ill., and PJ Collier of Houston, Texas, ended the day in a tie for second following rounds of 3-under-par 69. Will Seger of Jasper, Ind., carded a 2-under-par 70 entering the clubhouse in fourth place while Jake McBride of Hartville, Ohio, fired a 1-under-par 71 rounding out the top five.
Liu showed that age wasn't a factor as she leads the Girls Division by one stroke heading into the second round. The Florida-native birdied five holes on the day, four of which were on the back nine. She felt that her putting played a big role and looks to be conservative on the greens in the second round.
“It feels awesome,” Liu said. “I don't get intimated by other player's age, I just go along with my own business. I'll attack the pins (tomorrow) but I'll be more conservative with my longer putts in the second round.”
Jennifer Peng of San Diego, Calif., entered the clubhouse after posting an even-par 72 as she sits in second place. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ontario, and Jessica Porvasnik of Hinckley, Ohio, ended the day in a tie for third as they posted rounds of 1-over-par 73, two shots behind the leader.
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.
Second-round tee times for the Cleveland Junior Open will run from 7 a.m. — 12:10 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at Red Tail Golf Club. For more information about the Cleveland Junior Open, contact Tournament Headquarters at (770) 601-8922.
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