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ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS / LAWRENCE HALL ABILENE JUNIOR
Abilene Country Club
Abilene, Texas
July 14-17, 2003
HOWARD LEADS AFTER ROUND TWO
AT 8-UNDER-PAR 134
Creamer continues to lead Girls Division at 7-under-par
135
ABILENE, Texas - Cole Howard of Burleson, Texas, leads
the Boys Division of the Abilene Reporter-News / Lawrence
Hall Abilene Junior with an 8-under-par 134 after Wednesday's
second round. In the Girls Division, Paula Creamer of Pleasanton,
Calif., is in the lead at 7-under-par 135.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Abilene
Reporter-News / Lawrence Hall Abilene Junior is a 54-hole
tournament, featuring 120 players representing five states
and Mexico, including 99 players from Texas.
Howard, 17, said he knew he would have to get up and down
with his short irons and approach shots consistently to be
in contention for the lead. Howard did just that by sailing
a 100-yard wedge shot out and over the trees on the 400-yard,
par-4 third hole to leave him a tap in for birdie.
"My short game was awesome today," Howard said.
"I'm striving for consistency especially in my longer
irons and I'm working on getting the ball up and down with
my approach shots."
Howard (68-66-134) hit 15 greens to tally six birdies and
one bogey and is pleased with his game going into the final
round.
"I'm going to go out and have fun," Howard said.
"I'm simply going to play my own game and not everyone
else's."
Trey Todd of Abilene, Texas, ended his second round at 7-under-par
135. Motivated by back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8 and 9, the
18-year-old Todd will focus on his putting and consistency
as he enters the final round.
"I struggled a lot with my putting on the front nine,"
Todd said. "I started to keep my head down longer during
my putts and everything started dropping in the hole. I'm
trying to stay patient with my game. If I miss a putt, I just
go on to the next hole."
Tied for third place in the Boys Division at 6-under-par 136
are Harris Graham of Argyle, Texas, Michael Douthit of Palestine,
Texas, and defending champion and first-round leader Jeremy
Frye of Palestine, Texas.
In the Girls Division, the 16-year-old Creamer looks to sink
more putts during the final round.
"I hit a 200-yard approach shot and chipped it in for
eagle on No. 7," Creamer said. "But I couldn't seem
to get my putting to work today. I know I simply need to make
more tomorrow."
Lauren Espinosa of Irving, Texas, ended her round at 2-under-par
69 bringing her two-day total 5-under-par 137. Espinosa is
confident in her game for the final round of play.
"I hit 16 greens today and everything was feeling good,"
Espinosa, 16, said. "I'm very confident right now, more
confident than usual. I know that Paula is going to play well
and that my game needs to be on."
Sharing third-place in the Girls Division at 6-over-par 148
are Brittany Tomerlin of San Angelo, Texas, and Christa Spedding
of Granbury, Texas.
The Abilene Reporter-News / Lawrence Hall Abilene Junior continues
at 7:00 a.m. Thursday off the No. 1 tee at Abilene Country
Club. For more information on the event, call tournament headquarters
at (915) 692-1855.
#AJGA#
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