RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.- The desert heat was back at Mission Hills Country Club Wednesday as Chad Moscovic of Stockton, Calif., took over the lead in the Boys Division while Amie Cochran of Torrance, Calif., continues to lead the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Lennar Junior at Mission Hills marks the 22nd annual tournament at the Mission Hills Country Club and is the longest-running tournament on the AJGA schedule. The 54-hole event features 84 boys and girls from 11 states and Canada.

Cochran, a Polo Golf Junior All-American, carded an even-par 72 Wednesday to stay atop the leaderboard. Cochran's round included three birdies and three bogeys and brought her two-round total to 2-under-par 142.

"It was kind of a disappointing round today," remarked Cochran. "My putting struggled and I missed five birdie putts. I did drive the ball very well today though, only missing one fairway."

Cochran will be looking for her first AJGA victory Thursday. The senior-to-be does have two second place finishes on her resume; this summer's Southwestern Junior Classic and the 2002 PING Phoenix Junior Classic.

"Tomorrow I just want to play well," Cochran said. "I plan on taking it one shot at a time and trying to keep the pressure low."

Cochran is followed in second place by Ki-Shui Liao of Alameda, Calif. Liao carded an even-par 72 for the second straight round, totaling 144 for the tournament. Sydnee Michaels of Temecula, Calif., now stands in third place with a two-round score of 145, following a round of 3-over-par 75.

In the Boys Division, Moscovic posted a 1-under-par 71 Wednesday, bringing his total to 137 following two rounds. The San Diego State signee carded five birdies and four bogeys.

"I've been driving well all week and continued that today," commented Moscovic. "Overall, yesterday was a little better than today, but I was happy with being under par."

Moscovic hopes to improve on his best AJGA showing, a third-place finish at last season's AJGA Morgan Run Junior.

"I'm hoping to play another solid round tomorrow that mirrors Tuesday rather than Wednesday," remarked Moscovic. "Anything under par is fine with me."

University of California signee Elliott Wainwright of Hillsborough, Calif., currently sits in second place. Wainwright carded a 72 Wednesday, totaling 139 through two rounds. Wainwright's round included six birdies, two bogeys, and a quadruple-bogey on hole no. 17, in which he hit into two water hazards. Wainwright went on to birdie no. 18 to conclude his day.

"Other than no. 17, I played pretty well and didn't make many mistakes," Wainwright said.

With three birdies from beyond 15 feet and three other birdies from around five feet, Wainwright's putting helped him all day.

"I putted very well today," commented Wainwright. "My work on the greens definitely carried me."

Tuesday's leader, Jason Kang of Torrance, Calif., carded a 3-over-par 75 Wednesday bringing his two-round total to 139, dropping him one spot down into a tie for second. Kang and Wainwright are followed in fourth place by Daniel Im of La Habra, Calif., Travis Esway of Granite Bay, Calif., and Matthew Shin of Cerritos, Calif.

Final-round play begins Thursday with tee times starting at 6:30 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10 tees.

For more information on the Lennar Junior at Mission Hills, please call AJGA tournament headquarters at (760) 324-9400.

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