CHRYSLER AJGA BOYS INVITATIONAL
The Cardinal Golf & Country Club
Greensboro, N.C.
June 10-14, 2002

LANGE CLOSES IN ON FIRST AJGA TITLE IN GREENSBORO
Todd, Ureta fire 5-under-par 65s to jump into top five heading into final round

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Brett Lange of Atlanta carded a 1-under-par 69 Thursday to regain the lead at the Chrysler AJGA Boys Invitational, held at the par-70 Cardinal Golf & Country Club. Lange, who was the medalist at Sunday's qualifier, leads the field at 4-under-par 206 for the tournament.

The Chrysler AJGA Boys Invitational, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 99 players from 20 states, Canada, and Singapore, with nearly 20 percent of the field hailing from North Carolina. The inaugural 72-hole event, which runs Tuesday through Friday with no cut, includes 22 Polo Golf Junior All-Americans. Rocco Mediate, two-time champion of the PGA TOUR's Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic, is serving as honorary chairman for the competition.

Lange, 16, started the day strong with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 to retake the lead. After a bogey on No. 14, Lange answered with a birdie on the 396-yard, par-4 15th to move back to 1-under-par for the day.

"I chipped in for birdie on No. 2 and played solid most of the rest of the day," Lange said. "My only stupid play today was on No. 14 when I hit into the hazard. I was able to get up-and-down for bogey on the hole, though, and I came back strong with a good birdie on No. 15."

Lange (66-71-69-206) finished in the top 10 in four tournaments last season, but has never led going into the final round.

"I played a lot smarter today," Lange said. "For tomorrow, I just need to work on my putting, relax, and try to be consistent."

Lange holds a two-shot lead over Brendon Todd of Cary, N.C., who fired the low round of the day with a 5-under 65. Martin Ureta of Wesley Chapel, Fla., followed up a 1-under 69 yesterday by matching Todd with a 65.

Todd, a 16-year-old senior-to-be who began the third round in a tie for 19th, enters the final round in second place.

"I hit the ball much better off the tee today," said Todd, who has fired rounds of 69, 74 and 65. "I never put myself in trouble, except for on No. 2, but I came around and pulled off a par on that hole."

In Todd's four years of playing in an AJGA tournament at The Cardinal Golf & Country Club, he had never birdied No. 18. His luck on that hole changed today, making it one of the five birdies he posted on the round.

Ureta, 16, continues to improve upon his scores each day, shooting rounds of 75, 69 and 65. Ureta highlighted his round by sinking a 40-foot eagle putt on the 545-yard, par-5 13th.

"I didn't really hit the ball very well on the first few holes, but I drove the ball in the middle all day long," Ureta said. "On this course, though, you never know, even if you hit the ball down the middle. You can still leave yourself with some hard approach shots."

Todd and Ureta, who played together during the first two rounds of the AJGA Greater Greensboro Chrysler Junior last season, will join Lange to form the final pairing tomorrow.

Three other players finished the day in a tie with Ureta for third place. Brett Stegmaier (72-71-66-209) of Madison, Conn., Seung Su Han (76-65-68-209) of Chino Hills, Calif., and Brian Harman (68-67-74-209) of Savannah, Ga., each enter Friday at 1-under for the tournament.

Final-round tee times will begin Friday, June 14, at 7:30 a.m. off of the No. 1 tee at The Cardinal Golf & Country Club.

For more information on the Chrysler AJGA Boys Invitational, contact tournament headquarters at (336) 668-2746, ext. 215, or visit our Web site at ajga.org.

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