AJGA CLUBCORP JUNIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Homestead Resort, Lower Cascades Course
Hot Springs, Virginia
July 30 - August 1, 2002

JONES AND MATALAVAGE SHARE LEAD AT THE HOMESTEAD
Cantwell takes Girls Division lead heading into final round

HOT SPRINGS, VIRGINIA - Jared Jones of Kenova, W.Va., fired a 4-under-par 68 and is tied for the lead at 142 with Marc Matalavage of Mechanicsburg, Pa., who carded a 3-under-par 69 during the second round of the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship. Holly Cantwell of Morristown, Tenn., pulled ahead in the Girls Division after shooting a 1-over-par 73, giving her a tournament total of 148.

The 54-hole tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 120 boys and girls from twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia, with twenty-one players hailing from Virginia.

Jones (74-68-142) began by making par on his first four holes before making his first birdie on the par-4, 354-yard fifth. Jones pared No. 6 and then eagled the par-5, 520-yard seventh. Jones carded three-straight birdies on Nos. 12, 13 and 14 and then pared out to finish with a 4-under-par 34-34-68 and a tournament total of 2-under-par 142.

"I made some putts today," said the 17-year-old. "I was leaving myself with 12 to 15 foot putts and I started making them. I just need to keep with the same game plan tomorrow and hopefully I can come through with a win."

Matalavage (73-69-142) started with two pars before making a bogey on No. 3. On No. 7, Matalavage hit a 7-iron to within five feet to make eagle. Matalavage finished the front nine with an even-par 36. On the back, Matalavage pared his first four holes and then bagged three consecutive birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 16, where he chipped in from a bunker. Matalavage chipped in on 18 to save par and finish with a 3-under-par 69.

"I played solid and felt good about my round today," said Matavage, who will play golf for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington this fall. "I couldn't get any birdies on the front before No. 7, where I knew I could at least make a bird. My turning point today was my first birdie on No. 14 when I made a 30-foot putt. I am just going to go out and have fun tomorrow and see what happens."

Robert Gates, Jr., of Gainesville, Fla., shot a 71 and is in third with an even-par 144 for the tournament, while Greg Carlin of Kensington, Md., is in fourth with a 145. Chad Horner of Essexville, Mich., Bill McCrary of Houston, Texas, Chad Fultz of Staunton, Va., and Philip Pettitt, Jr., of Murfreesboro, Tenn., are all tied for fifth at 146.

In the Girls Division, Cantwell had a solid front nine with eight pars and one birdie, which came on the par-5, 485-yard seventh. On the back, Cantwell pared her first four holes and then had a pair of bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15. Cantwell bounced back and pared out to finish with a 1-over-par 73 and the tournament lead with a 148.

"My putting was really good today," said the 17-year-old. "I made three long par putts between eight and ten feet. I just played a solid round of golf. I am just going to try to keep my nerves calm during the final round and play like I have the past two days."

C.J. Kim of Diamond Bar, Calif. is in second place at 150 and Erica Battle of Columbia, S.C. shot a 2-over-par 74 and is in third with a 151.

Charlie Waddell of Wilmette, Ill., made a hole-in-one using an 8-iron on the par-3, 160-yard eighth.

Final-round tee times will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, off of the No. 1 tee at The Homestead Resort's Lower Cascades Course.

For more information on the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship, please contact tournament headquarters at (540) 839-7694, or visit the Association's Web site at ajga.org.

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