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AJGA
ROLEX GIRLS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
LPGA International, Legends Course
Daytona Beach, Florida
June 9-12, 2003
JANE
PARK LEADS PACK HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND AT ROLEX GIRLS
3-under-par 69 puts Creamer one shot behind the leader
DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. - Hot and muggy conditions at the LPGA International,
Legends Course did not affect Jane Park of Beaumont, Calif.,
as she took over the lead with a 3-under-par 69 after the
second round at the AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship,
which gives her a 139 heading into Thursday's final round.
Also carding 69 was Paula Creamer of Pleasanton, Calif., bringing
her two-day total to 140. First-round leader Angela Park of
Torrance, Calif., fell two shots back after shooting 2-over-par
74.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Rolex
Girls Junior Championship features 80 girls, representing
24 states, Mexico, and Japan. Seventeen Florida residents
are included in the field. The Polo Golf Girls Junior Player
of the Year, In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., and 22 other Polo
Golf Junior All-Americans are among the title contenders.
Jane Park attributed her success Wednesday to her putting.
"I struggled off the tee today, but I made a couple of
putts that weren't supposed to go in," Park said. "I
made three birdie putts from 30 to 40 feet. I was just trying
to lag the putts up there and they just kept dropping."
Park was pleased with her performance thus far and hopes to
maintain the momentum that she built up over the past two
days. The 16-year-old has not won an AJGA event since 2001,
and has yet to win an AJGA Invitational.
"I'm ready to win one," said Park. "Tomorrow
I want to keep the ball in play and hit fairways. I also want
to capitalize on the chances I get and keep playing well."
Creamer, a 16-year-old 2003 U.S Women's Open qualifier, recorded
six birdies and three bogeys in Wednesday's round.
"I putted all right, but I missed a lot of short putts,"
said Creamer.
Asked about her thoughts on the final round, Creamer thinks
she can lower her score from Wednesday's round.
"I like playing this course and believe that I can go
low," the rising high school junior Creamer said. "I
know that I left many shots out on the course today. Tomorrow
I plan on playing my game by hitting fairways and greens consistently."
Angela Park has a two-day total of 142, which places her in
a three-way tie for third with fellow California native Amie
Cochran of Torrance (69-73—142), and In-Bee Park (71-71—142).
"Today didn't go too well," Angela Park said. "I
didn't shoot as well as I wanted to. I tried to be patient
with my game, but I missed too many putts, and putts equals
confidence for me."
Cochran carded four birdies on Nos. 1, 11, 13 and 14 that
helped place her name among the contenders.
"The four birdies were nice today, but I also hit into
too many water hazards, causing three bogeys," commented
Cochran. "Hopefully tomorrow I will make less mistakes."
Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., Blair Lamb of Flat Rock,
N.C., Christie Reed of Coral Springs, Fla., and Amber Prange
of Noblesville, Ind., are tied for sixth with scores totaling
145.
In other tournament highlights, Lauren Todd of Phoenix, joined
Jane Park and Creamer with carding the low round of the day
with a 3-under-par 69.
Final-round tee times will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday off
the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at LPGA International's Legends Course.
For more information on the AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship,
contact tournament headquarters at (386) 274-1674.
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