MIDWEST JUNIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Highlands Course
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
June 30 - July 3

BLUMENHERST SHOOTS PERSONAL BEST TO LEAD GIRLS DIVISION
Korbe heads Boys Division with 5-under-par 66

Lake Geneva, Wis. - Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz., fired a personal best 6-under-par 65 to lead the Girls Division after the first round of the Midwest Junior Players Championship. After shooting a 5-under-par 66, Sam Korbe of Springdale, Ark., pulled ahead in the Boys Division going into the second round.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the tournament features 99 players representing 26 states. The 54-hole event runs Tuesday through Thursday in Lake Geneva. The Midwest Junior Players Championship has not been held since 1998, when it completed a seven-year run at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.

Blumenherst's 65 is enough to lead the Girls Division going into the second round. She made eight birdies on the round, including four-in-a-row on the front nine.

"This is my lowest score ever," the 16-year-old said. "I had a good start making four birdies on my first four holes. Tomorrow I hope to play my best and start fresh again."

Christie Reed of Coral Springs, Fla., stands in second place after the first round. She shot a 1-under-par 70, starting her round with birdies on holes No. 2 and 3.

"I putted well today," Reed said. "I made a 50-foot and 20-foot putt for birdies on two and three. The solid birdie on hole No. 3 boosted me for the rest of the day."

Korbe took the lead in the Boys Division after making birdie on the 594-yard, par-5 11th hole. Korbe is headed to play golf for the University of Tulsa next year.

"My swing was feeling good," the 18-year-old said. "I was lucky to get my putts to fall. I went driver and 6-iron on 11 and then got up-and-down for birdie. I felt really good on that hole."

Max Harres of Belleville, Ill., and Cole Peevler of Keokuk, Iowa, tied for second place with 3-under-par 68s after the first round.Harre s attributed his success to making four birdies on the front nine. Harres will be attending the University of Northern Illinois in the fall.

"I made a quick birdie on the 2nd and a nice putt on the 4th to get things going," the 18-year-old said. "Tomorrow I need to keep shooting under par because there are good scores available out there."

Peevler's key to success was making seven birdies on the day.

"My short irons were solid today," the 16-year-old said. "I need to play the same way I did today and keep shooting under par."

Competing in his first AJGA event, Eric Shields of Madison, Wis., nailed a hole-in-one on the 157-yard par-3 7th hole.

"I knew I hit the ball close to the pin," Shields said. "A spectator said it went in the hole and I didn't know what to say. It was pretty incredible."

Second-round tee times will begin at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday off the No. 1 tee at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Highlands Course.

For more information on the Midwest Junior Players Championship contact tournament headquarters at (800) 558-3417, Rm.7219.

#AJGA#