THUNDERBIRD INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR
Grayhawk Golf Club, Raptor Course
Scottsdale, Arizona
May 23-26, 2003

HARMAN FIRES A 6-UNDER-PAR TO SIT ATOP THE LEADERBOARD
Kemp ties women's competitive course record

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Brian Harman of Savannah, Ga., scorched the Raptor Course Saturday in the desert heat for a 6-under-par 66 (34-32), one shot off the course record. In the Girls Division, Sarah Kemp of Melbourne, Australia, tied the competitive women's course record with a 4-under-par 68.

The 54-hole stroke play event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 84 players from 20 states, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden. Sixty-six members of the Polo Golf Junior All-America teams are entered.

Harman, who finished the day with six birdies and 12 pars, got his day off to a good start with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, from 20 and 10 feet, respectively.

"I really struggled off the tee today," the third-team Polo Golf Junior All-American said. "I had a few good breaks and I only went into the desert once."

The highlight of the 16-year-old's day was making a 30-foot putt for par on No. 8.

"My putts were falling," he said. "I only missed one putt within 10 feet. I was hitting my irons well, too. My round today gives me a lot of confidence. For tomorrow, I just need to shoot another round in the 60s and I will still be up there."

One stroke back at 67 are Jon Curran of Hopkinton, Mass., and Roberto Castro of Alpharetta, Ga. Tied for fourth with a round of 70 are Kevin Dore of Dundas, Ontario, and Anthony Kim of La Quinta, Calif.

In the Girls Division, Kemp will take a two-stroke lead into the second round after firing 33-35 for a 4-under-par 68.

"I drove the ball well and did not miss any fairways," the 17-year-old said. "I hit a couple of shots left, but I got up-and-down for par."

Kemp, who is the Australian Junior Champion and the top-ranked women's amateur in her country, bogeyed the first hole and then had three birdies in a row, starting at hole six. She finished the day with five birdies, 12 pars and one bogey.

"I have never played desert golf before and this is one of the hottest days that I have played," she said. "This is a nice course and it is a little longer than the courses in Australia."

This is only the second time Kemp has ever been to the United States and she noticed the balls go a little further here. Her 68 ties the competitive course record set by Kim Kouwabunpat and Brittany Lang at this event in 2000 and 2002, respectively.

"It's great to play so well here," Kemp said. "I am happy to be here, playing against the best juniors in the world."

Two shots back at 2-under-par 70 is Ashley Knoll of The Woodlands, Texas, and Hannah Jun of San Diego, Calif. Tied for fourth at even-par 72 are defending champion Brittany Lang of McKinney, Texas, the Polo Golf Girls Junior Player of the Year In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., and Mallory Code of Tampa, Fla.

Second round action will begin at 7 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, with the final round taking place on Monday.

For more information on the Thunderbird International Junior, please contact tournament headquarters at (480) 502-3181.