JARVIS, PERIVERSOFF SET PACE AT CALEDON WOODS

BOLTON, Ontario - Mike Jarvis of Lancaster, N.Y., and Joanna Periversoff of Hamilton, Ontario, survived windy conditions to claim first-round leads Wednesday at the AJGA BMO Financial Group Future Links Junior at Caledon Woods.

The 54-hole stroke play tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 99 of the top junior golfers from Ontario, Quebec and nine U.S. states at Caledon Woods Golf Club.

Jarvis, who frequently crosses the border into Canada to play golf, set the pace in the Boys Division with a 2-under-par 69.

"I come up here a lot to play golf," said Jarvis, who lives near Buffalo, N.Y. "I think the courses are nicer in this area; and the prices are pretty good, too."

Four years ago, Jarvis made his first trip to Ontario, caddying for his father. Since then, he has returned frequently as a player - something that helped him when the wind picked up in the first round.

"It is definitely windier here than in Buffalo," Jarvis said. "It was tough today. It was hard to pick the right club going into the greens. It was a two-club wind."

After a rocky start, in which he hit his opening tee shot out of bounds to make double bogey on the first hole, Jarvis scattered seven birdies throughout his round.

"Mentally, it was hard to overcome that first hole," Jarvis said. "You never want to start with a double bogey, but I just focused on one shot at a time."

Jarvis owns a two-shot lead over a trio of Ontario residents, including: Adrian Singh of Maple; Mark Sommerfeld of Waterloo; and David Arnold of Brooklin. Tied for fifth are Adam McCauley of Oakville, Ontario, and Matt Halliday of Caledonia, Ontario.

In the Girls Division, Periversoff is looking for another big victory after winning the BMO Financial Group Future Links Ontario Championship, conducted by the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

Periversoff built a five-shot lead by firing an even-par 71 - a steady round that included two birdies and two bogeys. She credited her putting for her score.

"I was making the putts I needed to make for par," she said. "I've been working on that, so I was hoping I would putt well. I also hit some good sand shots."

As for the wind, Periversoff admitted, "It didn't really hurt me all that much. When I hit a bad shot it was my fault."

Trailing Periversoff by five shots is Mayumi Kobayashi of Santa Monica, Calif., who carded a 76 to stand in second place. Two players share third, including defending champion Ashley Bickerton of Ottawa, Ontario, and Anita Gahir of Thornhill, Ontario, who each shot 78.

The AJGA BMO Financial Group Future Links Junior at Caledon Woods continues Thursday with second-round tee times running from 7 to 11:57 a.m. off the first tee at Caledon Woods Golf Club.

For more information, please contact AJGA headquarters at (905) 880-1400.

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