AJGA hp BOYS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort - Copperhead and Island Courses
Palm Harbor, Florida
July 27-August 1, 2003

LEON CLAIMS THE LEAD AT INNISBROOK WITH EVEN-PAR 214
Cohan one stroke back of lead at 1-over-par 215

PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Trent Leon of Dallas fired an even-par 71 Thursday on the Copperhead Course to gain a one-stroke lead at even-par 214 after the third round of the AJGA hp Boys Junior Championship.

The 72-hole stroke play event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 143 boys from 29 states and two foreign countries. The event is being held at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort, Copperhead and Island Courses. Past champions of the event include David Duval, Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods.

After admittedly struggling with his driver during the second round, Leon, 17, visited his golf instructor in Sarasota, Fla., to analyze his swing. With confidence under his belt, Leon returned to Innisbrook Thursday for the third round of play and moved into first place with 18 holes remaining.

"This course throws pressure on you," Leon said. "I was hitting it everywhere on the front nine, but on the back I found the tempo I needed. It's always fun and easy to play well with good players around you. I know I just need to put it in the fairways and onto the greens and I can make it easier on myself."

Looking back on the last three days, Leon said that he knows he will have to continue to play aggressive because of the stiff competition.

"This is going to be a close tournament," Leon said. "The course is so difficult that there won't be anyone shooting really low or having an insurmountable lead. Anything can happen out here."

The 17-year-old Adam Cohan of Wayne, Pa., finished his day at even-par 71 and sits one stroke back of the lead at 1-over-par 215. Cohan's three birdies were made possible in large part by a solid day with his irons.

"I hit a lot of great shots today," Cohan said. "I didn't get off to a good start today, but I came around on the back nine. I was hitting all of my irons well and I knew that if I could just get a good tee shot I would be in good shape. I hope to finish here well tomorrow, I would like to get a few points towards events like next year's Canon Cup."

Standing in a three-way tie for third place at 2-over-par 216 are Lance Lopez of Fresno, Texas, George Gandranata of Bradenton, Fla., and Mark Anderson of Beaufort, S.C.

Final-round tee-times will begin at 7:00 a.m. Friday on the Copperhead Course and conclude at 8:48 a.m. For more information on the AJGA hp Boys Junior Championship, contact tournament headquarters at (727) 942-2000, ext. 2889.