HERMES, BLUMENHERST BREEZE THROUGH WINDY ROUND AT WALKING STICK
Leaders post low scores of 68 and 73 at PING/Marsico Funds event

PUEBLO, Colo. - Jake Hermes of Durango, Colo., and Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz., sit atop the leaderboard after Wednesday's first round at the PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior Roundup at Walking Stick Golf Course.

The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 84 players from 12 states, and includes 43 Colorado residents.

Weather conditions played a large role in Wednesday's round, as players were forced to compensate for 30 mph winds.

"I was 3-under-par before the wind picked up," said Hermes, who posted a 35-33-68. "But I was able to control the distance of my irons and get back to 3-under at the end of the round. I am very pleased with my round."

Hermes, 17, opened his round with birdies on three of the first five holes before the wind started blustering. A lost ball on the seventh hole resulted in a double bogey, and then a bogey on No. 11 dropped him back to even par.

Hermes rallied with consecutive birdies on holes 13 and 14, then eagled No. 15 to move to 4-under-par. Hermes drained an eagle putt at the 545-yard, par-five 15th after knocking his 2-iron approach to within 12 feet of the hole.

Hermes finished at 3-under-par to build a two-stroke lead over three players. Geoff Mead of Rapid City, S.D., John Philpy of Eads, Colo., and Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, Colo., are tied for second place at 1-under-par 70.

U.S. Open qualifier Tom Glissmeyer of Colorado Springs, Colo., finished the first round of tournament play with a 36-38-74.

In the Girls Division, the 16-year-old Blumenherst seemed unaffected by the wind through 16 holes as she carded one birdie and 15 pars. However, the 30 mph gusts took their toll when she made bogey on her final two holes.

The second-team Polo Golf Junior All-American hit 16 greens in regulation and credited her consistent putting as she posted a 38-35-73 after starting on the 10th tee.

With a four-shot lead, Blumenherst hopes for a duplicate effort during Thursday's second round.

"I just want to come out and do the same thing tomorrow," she said. "I'd be happy with another round like this."

Heather Wright of Houston stands in second at 77, and Kelly Jacques of Longmont, Colo., is in third at 78.

Second-round tee times will begin Thursday at 7 a.m. off the first and 10th tees.

For more information on the PING/Marsico Funds Colorado Junior Roundup, please contact tournament headquarters at (719) 584-3400 ext.102.

#AJGA#