McGURK TAKES ONE-SHOT LEAD WITH 4-UNDER-PAR 68 ON ISLAND COURSE
Freund goes low on the Copperhead Course

PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Daniel McGurk of The Woodlands, Texas, claimed a one-shot lead after Tuesday's opening round of the AJGA hp Boys Junior Championship. McGurk's 68 on the Island Course was enough to leave him one shot clear of the field.

The 72-hole stroke play event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 144 boys from 29 states and two foreign countries. The event is being contested at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort, Copperhead and Island Courses. Play is taking place on both courses during the first and second rounds.

After two rounds, the field will be cut to the top 72 juniors plus ties. The final two rounds, which will be contested on Thursday and Friday, will take place at the Copperhead Course. Past champions of the event include David Duval, Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods.

With no practice round under his belt for the Island Course, Daniel McGurk of The Woodlands, Texas, ended his day at 4-under-par 68.

"Everything was going well today," McGurk said. "I made three birdies in a row on the back nine and kept making good putts all day. I think Copperhead will set up well for me tomorrow."

McGurk said his round was also influenced by playing partner Trent Leon of Dallas, Texas, who shot one stroke behind at 3-under-par 69.

"I was trying to stay with it to the end," Leon said. "I'm looking forward to the next few days. I played well at the Copperhead practice round and I hope to do the same tomorrow. It's nice to be in the fairways on Copperhead."

The Island Course, with tighter fairways than Copperhead, suited Lance Lopez of Fresno, Texas, who ended his day at 3-under-par 69.

"I'm actually glad that I played Island my first day," Lopez said. "My straight drives work well on these fairways and I made a lot of good iron shots. I hope to do well here to get exemptions for next year."

On the Copperhead Course, Timothy Freund of Greensboro, Ga., went out early and set the standard for the rest of the day. Freund's 2-under-par 69 was the best score of the day on the Copperhead Course, two shots better than the field and one shot behind tournament leader McGurk.

"I played probably the most solid round I've played all year (Tuesday)," Freund said.

Freund got the ball rolling early by making birdie on his first hole. Freund recorded four birdies on the day and just two bogeys. He credited much of his success to the short blade.

"I've been playing fairly well. My putting had been a little bit sour, though. I felt that if I could drop some putts, something like this could happen."

Also making noise on the Copperhead Course in the first round was Harris Graham of Argyle, Texas, whose even-par 71 left him three shots behind McGurk.

Second-round tee-times will begin at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday on the Copperhead and Island Courses and conclude at 9:39 a.m. For more information on the AJGA hp Boys Junior Championship, contact tournament headquarters at (727) 942-2000, ext. 2889.