HONECK LEADS PACK OF AN ALL-TEXAS TOP FIVE
Rollins leads by six in girls division

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Creighton Honeck of Austin, Texas took charge of the PING Harvey Penick Junior after firing a 3-under-par 69 to take a four-shot lead over five players going into the second round. Honeck took advantage of three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 12th in order to set the pace after the first day of play.

In the Girls Division, Ashley Rollins also of Austin, Texas was 4-under-par for the day at one point and 5-under-par on the back nine before making a double bogey on the finishing hole to record a 2-under-par 69, good enough for a six-shot lead.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the PING Harvey Penick Junior consists of 120 players from 16 states, including 98 from Texas, and Mexico. The tournament is being contested at The Hills Country Club, Flintrock Falls Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus. The course plays to a par-72 for the boys and par-71 for the girls.

On a course in which the greens could best be likened to a roller coaster, Honeck was able to navigate his way around them en route to his first-round 69, nearly 11 full shots below the course average of 79.9 for the day.

"When you see them, there is a lot of undulation and they look like they're tough to putt; but they're rolling really good, they're true and I like the speed of them," Honeck said. "I feel really good; I got the putter working."

Although Honeck was consistent throughout the round, he utilized an uncommon formula before arriving at his 8:21 a.m. tee time.

"Actually I didn't hit any balls this morning because I got up a little late," Honeck said. "I just drove out here and teed off and it worked."

Competition, however, is fierce behind Honeck after four players, including Jeffrey Frye of Palestine, Texas, Lance Lopez of Fresno, Texas, Brian Noonan and Michael Randle, both of Austin, Texas carded rounds of 1-over-par 73 to trail by four shots.

Rollins, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of New Mexico, stormed the back nine by making five birdies in eight holes. However, she said a disappointing double bogey on the 18th cast a small shadow on an otherwise solid round.
Rollins attributed her score to her play on the difficult greens.

"I was striking the ball better than I have been in a while, and my putting was really, really good," Rollins said. "(The greens) are tough, but if you get it on the right line they're pretty fair."

Trailing Rollins by six shots is the only international player in the field, qualifier co-medalist Alejandra Llaneza from Mexico City. Llaneza's 4-over-par 75 was good enough for sole possession of second place.

Sarah Zwartynski of Allen, Texas and Alexandra Richards of Austin, Texas are seven shots off the pace after each carded a 5-over-par 76.

Second-round tee times will begin at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and continue until 12:51 p.m. For more information on the PING Harvey Penick Junior, contact AJGA tournament headquarters at (512) 263-6090.