LAUER LEADS BOYS FIELD AFTER DAY ONE AT 1-UNDER-PAR 71
Chudy, Weintraub, and Lopez Moreira in first place of Girls Division after round one

JUPITER, Fla. - Tiffany Chudy of Miramar, Fla., shot a 1-over-par 73 Tuesday to claim the Girls Division lead after the first round of the Abacoa Junior Classic. Seath Lauer of Bradenton, Fla., opened with a score of 1-under-par 71 to stand in first place in the Boys Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Abacoa Golf Club, the Abacoa Junior Classic features a field of 84 competitors. The event is a 54-hole stroke-play tournament with 57 players from the state of Florida.

Chudy, who competed at the AJGA's First American Title Avila Junior Classic last week, said she was pleased with her first-place performance.

"Everything was going well today, I was driving the ball great off the tee. My putts were great and normally I don't putt that well," Chudy said. "It just all fell together."

Following closely in second place at 2-over-par 74 are Hagen Weintraub of Pembroke Pines, Fla., and Natasha Lopez Moreira of Asuncion, Paraguay.

Weintraub, who tied for 10th at last year's event, stated she is confident in her playing ability for the second and third rounds of play.

"My putting was definitely working well," Weintraub said. "I shot the same score last year, I just want to stay consistent."

Lopez Moreira is one shot back of the lead with 36 holes to play. She closed her day by chipping in from 40 feet for birdie at the par-4, 391-yard ninth hole.

"I like the course and I'm playing it safe," Lopez Moreira said. "I just want to do my best and have fun."

Lauer, also fresh off an appearance at the First American Title Junior Classic, leads the Boys Division. He said the conditions of the greens led to his solid putting and first-place standing.

"I putted really well," Lauer said. "I rolled in six birdies, these are the best greens I've played all summer."

Jamie Wallace of Moorestown, N.J., and Chappell Brown of West Palm Beach, Fla., are tied for second place at even-par 72. Sean Hedden of Palm City, Fla., Noah Goldman of Longwood, Fla., Lanny Benson of St. Louis, Mo., and Jaime Zabala of Naples, Fla., Brent Herlihy of Glen Falls, N.Y., all share fourth place at 1-over-par 73.

The Abacoa Junior Classic continues at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday off of the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Abacoa Golf Club. For more information on the tournament, call (561) 622-0036.

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