|
AJGA R.H. CROSSLAND FOUNDATION/ST. REGIS
ASPEN JUNIOR CLASSIC
Aspen Golf Club
Aspen, Colorado
June 3-6, 2002
BLUMENHERST SHOOTS 67 FOR GIRLS DIVISION
LEAD
Bowen, Ogden, Coakley shoot 69
ASPEN, Colo. - The first round of the AJGA R.H. Crossland/St.
Regis Aspen Junior Classic saw low temperatures and a brief
weather delay, but Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz.,
managed to fire a 4-under-par 67 to take control of the Girls
Division. In the Boys Division, Danny Bowen of Albuquerque,
N.M., Clay Ogden of West Point, Utah, and Kenny Coakley of
Lakewood, Colo., share the lead at 69.
The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association,
is being held at the par-71 Aspen Golf Club. The 99-player
field features players from 21 states, including thirty-four
Colorado natives and four Aspen locals.
Blumenherst, who won the AJGA Arizona Junior Classic in March,
shot 67 after hitting 16 greens in regulation. She had five
birdies on the day, including three in a row on holes No.
5, 6 and 7.
"I hit my irons close all day and got some good birdie
opportunities," Blumenherst said. "Things are going
better for me this year because I'm hitting the ball farther."
Polo Golf Junior All-American Courtney Jones of Lake Quivira,
Kan., trails Blumenherst at 73 and Tiffany Tavee of Gilbert,
Ariz., is in third at 74.
On the Boys side, Bowen had a roller coaster start to his
round, opening with a birdie and following with a double-bogey,
bogey and par. He finished the front nine at 1-over-par, but
three birdies on the back nine got him to 69.
"My putting finally came through for me today,"
Bowen said. "I need to place my shots better coming into
the greens and capitalize on my birdie opportunities."
Ogden birdied all three par-5s at Aspen Golf Club. After chipping
in for birdie on the par-3 No. 8, Ogden carded two more birdies
on the back nine to claim a share of the lead.
"I scored really well, but it was all or nothing for
me today," Ogden said. "Tomorrow I need to keep
it together and play steady. I like this course so I think
I'll be alright."
Coakley said that he could live with his round after sinking
a 20-foot eagle putt on No. 15. The Oregon State University
signee hopes to maintain a share of the lead by staying focused
throughout the next two rounds.
"It was a solid round, but I'm disappointed in myself
for a few 3-putts," Coakley said. "I think I did
well because I had the mindset of taking advantage of the
holes that set up well for me."
Tied for fourth are Daniel Hahn of Denver, Colo., Tom Carlson
of Sioux Falls, S.D., Will Hanna of The Woodlands, Texas,
and Brian Ricketts of Highland Village, Texas, at 71.
Recent U.S. Open Qualifier Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch,
Colo., is tied for 23rd at 76.
For more information about the AJGA R.H. Crossland Foundation/St.
Regis Aspen Junior Classic and other AJGA events, please call
tournament headquarters at (970) 920-3221.
##AJGA##
|
