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AJGA MARSH KANSAS CITY JUNIOR
Oakwood Country Club
Kansas City, Missouri
August 5-8, 2002
PAYNE, KEITH SHARE FIRST ROUND LEAD IN
KANSAS CITY
Prange takes control of Girls Division
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jordan Payne of West Memphis, Ark.,
and Matthew Keith of Springfield, Mo., carded matching rounds
of 2-under-par 70 to take the lead after the first round of
the AJGA Marsh Kansas City Junior. In the Girls Division,
Amber Prange of Noblesville, Ind., is in front after firing
a 1-under-par 71. Oakwood Country Club proved to be a tough
test for the field as only four juniors finished the round
under par.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the 54-hole
event is being held at the par-72 Oakwood Country Club in
Kansas City, Mo. The 99-player field features players from
19 states and Japan, including 16 Missouri natives.
Payne, who qualified for the championship in a sudden-death
playoff in Sunday's qualifying round, made birdie on four
of the first seven holes on the back nine. After finishing
the front nine at 1-over-par, Payne started his streak by
draining a 20-foot putt for birdie on No. 10 and finished
with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3, 192-yard 16th hole.
"I'm really happy with today's round," Payne said.
"This is a tough course to walk, but it is in great shape.
You can't get aggressive and hit driver on every hole. You
have to place your irons well and hope for the best."
Keith finished the front nine at 2-under-par with birdies
on holes No. 3 and 6. On the back nine, the 17-year-old carded
a birdie on No. 10 and an eagle on No. 15, but a bogey on
No. 14 and a double-bogey on No. 16 kept him at 2-under-par
for the day.
Ryder Frerichs of Edina, Minn., is one shot off pace at 38-33-71.
David Merkow of Hartland, Wis., Matt Spielmann of Freeport,
Ill., and Cameron Bishop of Tulsa, Okla., are tied for fourth
at 72.
In the Girls Division, Prange got off to a rocky start as
she bogeyed the first and third holes. She rebounded with
a birdie on the par-5, 516-yard fourth hole and finished the
front nine at even par.
"To be honest, I was hitting greens and making putts
all day," Prange said. "When I was two over through
three holes I knew I had to keep trying. I just kept my head
up and bounced back with a birdie on No. 4."
Prange saw more success on the back nine with birdies on holes
No. 10, 15 and 16. The 17-year-old credited her success to
a good game plan and consistent play.
"On this course you have to hit good drives and everything
else will start to come together," Prange said. "I
came into this tournament wanting to win. I've never won an
AJGA event and it's one of my main goals. I'm going to touch
up on the things I didn't do well today and try to keep it
up tomorrow."
Courtney Jones of Lake Quivira, Kan., is two strokes behind
Prange at 73. The University of Tulsa signee had a consistent
round with four birdies and five bogeys on the day.
Jennifer Hong of Windermere, Fla., and Courtney Mahon of Topeka,
Kan., are tied for third at 75.
For more information about the AJGA Marsh Kansas City Junior,
please call tournament headquarters at (816) 761-3670.
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