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AJGA MARSH JUNIOR AT HAWK POINTE
Hawk Pointe Golf Club
Washington, New Jersey
August 4-7, 2003
RODGERS SOARS TO TOP OF
THE LEADERBOARD WITH AN 8-UNDER PAR 136
Grehan holds onto top spot in Girls Division with a 3-over-par
147 at Hawk Pointe
WASHINGTON, N.J. - Greg Rodgers of Phoenix, Md., moved
up from fifth to first after shooting a 6-under-par 66 in
the second round of the AJGA Marsh Junior at Hawke Pointe.
Megan Grehan of Mamaroneck, N.Y., fired a 3-over-par 75 to
retain her lead in the Girls Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the 54-hole
tournament features 100 boys and girls, ages 13-18, representing
16 states. The 14th annual event is being held at the Hawk
Point Golf Club for the second straight year.
Rodgers has seen this scenario before. Two weeks ago the 17-year-old
came into the final round of the AJGA Steel City Junior Classic
with a three-stroke lead. He ended up losing by one stroke
on the final hole. Rodgers has different plans for the final
round this time around.
"Last time I couldn't make any putts," Rodgers said.
"This time I'm not going to put extra pressure on myself.
Luck is on my side right now."
Rodgers came into the tournament with the goal of making a
total of 18 birdies. He had seven birdies on the day and five
in the first round.
"I had an easy round today and didn't scramble at all,"
he said. "I just stayed aggressive and didn't back off."
Following close behind Rodgers with a 7-under par 137 is Jason
Elliott of Palm Harbor, Fla. The 17-year-old also had seven
birdies on the day and only one bogey. His best AJGA finish
to date is 11th in the hp Boys Junior Championship last week.
"Everything went well today," Elliott said. "I
hit the ball well and putted well too. I didn't chip that
often but did a good job when I did. It was just one of those
days. Hopefully I can do the same thing tomorrow."
Coming in a close third with a 6-under-par 138 is Brian Belden
of Emmaus, Pa. The 16-year-old started off the day right by
making a birdie on his first hole, No. 3.
"It was a great start," Belden said. "I played
smart and didn't make many mental mistakes for the rest of
the round."
Belden took the championship away from Rodgers in the AJGA
Steel City Junior Classic, and both are curious to see what
happens in the AJGA Marsh Junior at Hawk Pointe's final round.
Also in the top five going into the final round are Brent
Herlihy of Glens Falls, N.Y., with a 68-71-139, and Tom Guillebeau
of Hockessin, Del., with a 71-69-140.
In the Girls Division, Grehan extended her lead to two strokes.
She attributes her round's success to the par-3 No. 13 hole.
Grehan bogeyed Nos. 11 and 12 but sunk a 12-foot putt on 13
for par.
"It kept me from going downhill for the rest of the day.
I couldn't have handled another bogey," the 14-year-old
said. "Tomorrow I just want to play my own game and not
make any silly mistakes."
Joining Grehan in her final round pairing will be Kelly Louth
of Victoria, Texas, Tiffany Tavee of Gilbert, Ariz. and Stephanie
Connelly of Pasadena, Md. Louth is in second with a 73-76-149.
Tavee sits in third with a 73-77-150 and Connelly enters the
final round with a 75-77-152.
Louth's best finish this summer was 13th at the Rolex Tournament
of Champions. Grehan, Tavee and Connelly all recently competed
and placed well in the AJGA McDonald's Betsy Rawls National
Championship in Wilmington, Del.
The final-round will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
on Thursday at the Hawk Pointe Golf Club.
For more information on the AJGA Marsh Junior at Hawk Pointe
contact tournament headquarters at (908) 689-1870.
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