BUICK JUNIOR OPEN PRESENTED BY GOLFWEEK
Spring Meadows Country Club
Linden, Michigan
June 16-19, 2003

CARROLL HEADS LEADERBOARD WITH 1-UNDER-PAR 71 IN LINDEN
Pressel fires an even-par 72 to lead the Girls Division

LINDEN, Mich.-After shooting a 1-under-par 71, Cornelius Carroll of St. Simons Island, Ga., leads after the first round of the Buick Junior Open presented by Golfweek. Morgan Pressel, of Boca Raton, Fla., shot an even-par 72 to pull ahead in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Buick Junior Open presented by Golfweek features 98 players with boys and girls, ages 13-18, representing 21 states and Canada. The 54-hole event is being held on the par-72 Spring Meadows Country Club golf course.

Carroll took the lead in the Boys Division after shooting an impressive 3-under par 33 on the back nine. He birdied holes 11, 15 and 18 to finish one shot ahead of the field.

"I didn't give up," the 16-year-old said. "I kept fighting all day. My goal wasn't score or position based, but to eliminate mental errors on the course."

Carroll was also satisfied with the Spring Meadows course and the way it held up in the afternoon rain.

"It's a solid course," he said. "No tricky holes or unusual shots."

Tying for second in the Boys Division with even-par 72s were Michigan natives David Praet of Oakland Township, Phillip Marsh of Canton, and Clark Klaasen of Grand Rapids.

Praet, who is playing in his first AJGA event, hopes to continue playing well to achieve his personal goal.

"Since this is my first event I hope to be in the top-25 percent of the field by the end of the tournament," Praet, 17, said.

Marsh, 17, had three birdies in a row on Nos. 14, 15 and 16. The 16th-hole birdie brought Marsh back to even par.

"I got a lot of good breaks," he said. "Even my bad shots worked."

Klassen, who earned a spot in the tournament after qualifying on Sunday, was 4-under par through 14, but made bogey on the remaining four holes to finish with a 72.

"It was frustrating," the16-year-old said. "But overall, I'm really happy with how I played."

In the Girls Division, Pressel emerged atop the leader board with one vision.

"I want to win," the 15-year-old said. "Today I just wanted to play a good round."

Pressel has accomplished a lot in the past month. She recently came in fourth at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship. In early June, Pressel qualified for U.S. Women's Open for the second time in three years.

"I played two years ago but didn't do as well as I wanted to," she said. "My goal this time is to play well and make the cut."

In second place is Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana of Long Beach, Calif., with a 2-over-par 74. Tangtiphaiboontana, who graduated from high school less than a week ago, is searching for a title this week before she begins her college golf career at Stanford University in the fall.

"I wasn't trying to go low, but put up a good number like I shot today," the 18-year-old said.

Second-round tee times will begin Wednesday at 7 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at Spring Meadows Country Club.

For more information on the Buick Junior Open presented by Golfweek, contact the AJGA at Spring Meadows Country Club at (810) 735-4363 or visit ajga.org.

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