GIELOW SOARS TO FIVE-SHOT ADVANTAGE AFTER SECOND ROUND
Prange and Pressel tie for first in the Girls Division

WINDSOR, Ontario - Brendan Gielow of Muskegon, Mich., shot an impressive 5-under-par 66 in the second round of the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior to take the lead in the Boys Division. Amber Prange of Noblesville, Ind., and Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., fired even-par 72s to pull ahead in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior features 105 players with boys and girls, ages 13-18, representing 13 states and Canada, including 50 Ontario natives. The 54-hole event is being held at Roseland Golf and Curling Club.

Gielow (67-66-133) fired a consistent 3-under-par 33 on both the front and back nines. He made six birdies on the round to put him at 9-under-par 133 for the tournament. Gielow's only other AJGA competition experience was at the AJGA Junior All-Star Classic at Midland last year.

"I hit the ball better today. My short game was really good," the 15-year-old said. "I had lots of medium length birdie putts. Tomorrow I need to go out and do the same thing as today – play a solid round."

After two rounds of play, Ryan Brehm of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., is in second followed by Andy Connell of Lima, Ohio, in third.

Brehm (67-71-138), 17, shot even-par 71 on the day to bring his tournament total to 4-under-par 138. He struggled on the par-5s but made an impressive four birdies to secure his spot in the leader group.

"I had two 3-putts on holes 14 and 18 but I got up and down when I needed to," Brehm said. "My short game was on today. I am positive tomorrow will be a better round."

Connell (69-70-139) fired a 1-under-par 70 to put him in contention heading into the final round. He made three birdies on the back nine to lower his tournament score to 3-under-par 139 after two rounds of play.

"I pulled it together on the last four holes," the 17-year-old said. "I was 2-under for the last three holes. I got my confidence back from my putting."

Prange (74-72-146) and Pressel (74-72-146) remain tied heading into the final round. Prange made two birdies and only one bogey on the round. She said she is looking for one last victory before she heads to college at the University of Washington.

"Today it was just me, the course and my ball," she said. "I don't need to add pressure to myself. I just need to play my own game. I am more confident now and I want one more win before I go to college."

Pressel's key to success was making birdies on all of the par-5s.

"I didn't hit a single fairway between the 5th and 17th holes," the 15-year-old said. "I made a few short putts and some up-and-downs that saved me."

Final-round tee times will begin Thursday at 6:30 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at Roseland Golf and Curling Club.

For more information on the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior, contact the AJGA at the Roseland Golf and Curling Club at (519)-972-0910.

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