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LESSING'S AJGA CLASSIC
The Links at Shirley
Shirley, New York
August 12, 2003
SNICKENBERGER HOLDS ONE
STROKE LEAD IN BOYS DIVISION
Creamer alone atop Girls Division leaderboard
SHIRLEY, N.Y. - Alex Snickenberger
of Wellesley, Mass., sits atop the Boys Division with a 2-under-par
70 after the first round of the Lessing's AJGA Classic on
Tuesday. In the Girls Division, Paula Creamer of Pleasanton,
Calif., holds a one-stroke lead at 2-under-par 70.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Lessing's
AJGA Classic will take place August 12-14 at The Links at
Shirley. The three-round event features an 84- player field,
66 boys and 18 girls, with 38 participants from New York.
The 17-year-old Snickenberger started his first round on fire
with five birdies on the front nine to go 4-under-par 32.
He then cooled off on the back nine and finished at 2-under-par
70.
"I played pretty well," Snickenberger said. "I
made a lot of saves and I'm pleased with an opening round
70."
Tied for second place behind Snickenberger are Tarik Can of
New York, N. Y. and Larry Haertel of Greenwich, Conn., at
even-par 72.
Can, 18, finished his first round with four birdies and four
bogeys and attributes his score to his short game.
"I didn't hit my driver well," Can said. "My
short game was really good today, that's what saved me."
Haertel was off to a slow start after he hit into the water
on hole No. 3 but came back strong to finish the front nine
1-over-par 37. Haertel wrapped up his first round by firing
a 1-under-par 35 on the back nine.
"I hit a lot of greens," Haertel said. "I wasn't
hitting the ball too close with my irons but my putter was
working well and that helped on the back nine."
Rounding out the top five in the Boys Division were Brett
Mormann of Santa Barbara, Calif., with a 1-over-par 73 in
fourth place and tied for fifth place are Billy Hanes of Elma,
N.Y. and Brandon Mitchel of Port Jefferson, N.Y. at 2-over-par
74.
In the Girls Division Creamer holds a one-stroke lead over
Megan Grehan of Mamaroneck, N.Y.
The 16-year-old Creamer played consistent golf and finished
her first round with two birdies and no bogeys.
"I missed a lot of putts," Creamer said. "I
had too many birdie opportunities that I didn't convert on.
I'm going to work on my pitching and putting for Wednesday
and Thursday."
Grehan, 14, used both a smooth stroke and good tempo to stand
alone in second place after the first round.
"I was swinging well today and hit a lot of greens,"
Grehan said. "This was the first time in a while I could
stand over a putt and feel like I could make it."
Stephanie Connelly of Pasadena, Md., Nannette Hill of Pelham
Manor, N.Y. and Susannah Aboff of Huntington, N.Y. round out
the top three in the Girls Division at 4-over-par 76.
Second-round tee times will begin at 6:00-10:03 a.m. on Wednesday,
August 13 off the No. 1 tee at The Links at Shirley. For more
information on the Lessing's AJGA Classic, call tournament
headquarters at (631) 395-7272.
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