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AJGA HARGRAY JUNIOR CLASSIC QUALIFIER
Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
June 24, 2002
HAN GARNERS MEDALIST HONORS
WITH ROUND OF 66
Fourteen qualify for AJGA Hargray Junior Classic
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Minkyu Han of Orlando,
Fla., fired a 6-under-par 66 Monday to take medalist honors
at the AJGA Hargray Junior Classic Qualifier held on the par-72
Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run. Esther Gweon of Charlotte,
N.C., shot a 2-under-par 70 to take the top spot in the Girls
Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Hargray
Junior Classic Qualifier allowed 14 juniors, 12 boys and 2
girls, to earn spots into the three-round Championship event,
which begins Wednesday.
Despite wet conditions, Han was able to make eight birdies
for the round. Han fired a 32 on the back, making birdie on
Nos. 10, 14, 15 and 18. After a bogey on the first hole, Han's
stellar play continued, making four birdies in a row.
After his front nine birdie streak, which came on holes two
through five, Han was 7-under-par. On No. 6, Han missed his
first fairway of the round en route to a bogey and a 34-32-66
finish.
"I hit my driver very well today," said Han, who
hit 16 greens in regulation. "My putting was awesome.
The way I played today gives me a lot of confidence going
into this tournament."
John Ebert of Charlotte, N.C., carded a 35-34-69 for second
place, and Robin Yoo of Bradenton, Fla., finished third with
a 34-38-72.
Also qualifying with a 74 were Shane Behmer of Lancaster,
Pa., Kyle Morris of Powell, Ohio, Griffith Hunter of Radford,
Va., Nathan Kinker of Barboursville, W.Va., Gordon Strother,
Jr., of St. Simons Island, Ga., Joshua Philbeck of Shelby,
N.C., and Soonam Kim of Goose Creek, S.C. Josh Nelms of Hixson,
Tenn., finished 11th at 75, and Joshua Darnell of Ashland,
Ky., won a two-way playoff to earn the 12th spot.
In the Girls Division, Gweon started strong with a birdie
on her first hole, No. 18. After a bogey on No. 1, Gweon made
four straight pars before back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6 and
7.
Gweon made two bogeys on the back nine before finishing the
round with consecutive birdies on 16 and 17.
"I played well today," said Gweon, who made five
birdies for a 35-35-70. "I made a lot of putts, and I
placed the ball well off the tee. I really didn't expect to
play this well."
Brooke Fender of Cambridge, Ohio, earned the other qualifying
spot after shooting a 38-43-81 on the day.
The AJGA Hargray Junior Classic will feature 84 players with
boys and girls representing 16 states. Sixteen players hails
from South Carolina.
First-round tee times will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June
26, off of the No. 1 and No. 10 tees at the Golden Bear Golf
Club at Indigo Run.
For more information on the AJGA Hargray Junior Classic, contact
tournament headquarters at (843) 681-8160.
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