AJGA KROGER JUNIOR INVITATIONAL
Elks Run Golf Club
Batavia, Ohio
August 5-8, 2002

CURRAN, JONES SHOOT 71 TO LEAD AT KROGER JUNIOR
Granada cards 73 to lead Girls Division by four

BATAVIA, Ohio -- Despite gusting winds, Jon Curran of Hopkinton, Mass., and Jared Jones of Kenova, W.Va., took advantage of otherwise perfect conditions to card even-par 71s to co-lead after the first round of the AJGA Kroger Junior Invitational Tuesday. In the Girls Division, Julieta Granada of Bradenton, Fla., sits atop the field after shooting a 73 to lead by four shots.

The 17-year-old Jones is coming off a victory at the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship last week, and his confidence level remains high.

"I'm hitting the ball really well right now," Jones said. "My short game is great right now too. Whenever I'm in trouble I can get it up and down for par."

Jones was satisfied with his round, carding three birdies and three bogeys, and he realizes what it will take to win the tournament.

"To shoot around par today was my goal," Jones said. "Even par looks pretty good if the winds hold up, otherwise there should be some scores under par."

Playing in his third AJGA event of the year, the 15-year-old Curran is seeking to improve upon his 16th-place finish at the Henry-Griffitts Junior at Furman.

"My recent play hasn't been that great," Curran said. "But I'm usually a pretty steady player."

After carding a round with two bogeys and two birdies, Curran demonstrated his ability to contend and be consistent.

"This is my best recent tournament round," Curran said. "I had a lot of birdie putts today, and I could've easily been under par."

Curran who hit 15 of 18 greens, but missed five fairways is definite about his plans for the week.

"It's tough to trust a shot on the course because it's so windy," Curran said. "The key is trusting your shot. My goal this week is hitting every fairway and green."

Cole Isban of South Bend, Ind.; Michael Cavallari of Laguna Beach, Calif.; Michael Haverfield of Louisville, Ky., and Jason Kokrak of Warren, Ohio, are tied for third after rounds of 1-over-par 72.

In the Girls Division, Granada an honorable mention Polo Golf Junior All-American, played her usual smart and safe game.

"I'm putting really well right now," Granada said. "And my short game is going pretty good too."

Granada played her game shot-by-shot, and focused solely on her own game.

"It was tough out there today," the 15-year-old Granada said. "With the wind and pin positions I was always in between clubs. But I played my game today and didn't worry what the other players were doing, so I'm happy with my round."

Carling Coffing of Middletown, Ohio; Mandy Goins of Frankfort, Ky., and Seema Sadekar of Bradenton, Fla., stand in a three-way tie for second after carding 77s.

The second round of the AJGA Kroger Junior Invitational will be held Wednesday, August 7 at the Elks Run Golf Club. Tee times will run between 7:30 a.m. - 12:27 p.m off the No. 1 tee.

For more information on the AJGA Kroger Junior Invitational, please contact tournament headquarters at (513) 735-6600, ext. 12, or visit our Web site at ajga.org.

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