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AJGA BUICK JUNIOR OPEN
Boyne Highlands Resort, Heather Course
Harbor Springs, Michigan
July 8-11, 2002
PATTERSON AND BURGOON PACE A CLOSELY CONTESTED
FIELD
Creamer primed to defend her title with a round of 3-under-par
68
HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. - In near perfect conditions
Pat Patterson of Sea Island, Ga., and Bronson Burgoon of The
Woodlands, Texas, shot identical rounds for the second consecutive
day (72-71-143) to share the lead at the AJGA Buick Junior
Open Wednesday. Defending tournament champion Paula Creamer
of Pleasanton, Calif., continued her mastery of the course
as she carded a 3-under-par 68 (72-68-140) to lead the Girls
Division by three strokes.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Buick
Junior Open features 99 players, both boys and girls, representing
17 states and Canada with 27 participants hailing from Michigan.
Each seeking their first AJGA title, Patterson and Burgoon
remain convincingly consistent through two rounds. Patterson
was on the verge of withdrawing prior to tournament play due
to an inner ear infection, but has rebounded to improve with
each round.
"I wasn't going to play because of the pain," Patterson
said. "But I decided I had nothing to lose. Right now
I'm just glad to be feeling better."
Despite numerous approaches within 10 feet of the flagstick
on the front nine, Patterson struggled with his putter as
he carded eight pars and one bogey.
"This course is a lot of fun to play," Patterson
said. "Robert Trent Jones is a great designer, and he
has made a course that's really challenging. Tomorrow I just
want to outsmart the designer."
The 15-year-old Burgoon is the medalist from the tournament
qualifier, and is determined to take the title.
"I said before this tournament that I wanted to win the
whole thing," Burgoon said. "I'm here to win, and
that's my only goal."
In what should make for an exciting final round, seven players
are within three shots of the lead. Ricky Romano of Murrieta,
Calif., and Jeffrey Blank of Sylvania, Ohio, are tied for
third at 144. Tyler Dunn of Godfrey, Ill., Patrick Wilkes-Krier
of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Jon Boguth of Sterling Heights, Mich.,
round out the top five with scores of 146, respectively.
In the Girls Division, the 15-year-old Creamer acknowledged
her iron game and putting carried her throughout the day as
she carded four birdies and only one bogey.
"The conditions on the course couldn't have been any
better today," Creamer said. "I hit my irons a lot
better today, which gave me a lot more looks at birdies."
Creamer has two AJGA titles this year and she will be seeking
her third victory Thursday.
"I played pretty aggressively today, but I think I can
lower my score for tomorrow," Creamer said. "All
in all it was a pretty good day, but I left a lot of shots
out there."
Dayna Burleigh of Horsham, Pa., stands in second at 143, while
Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana of Long Beach, Calif., rounds
out the top three with a score of 144.
Tangtiphaiboontana set the women's competitive course record
on the Heather Course Wednesday by carding a 4-under-par 67.
Final round action will run from 7:30 a.m. - 12:09 p.m. Thursday
off the No. 1 tee at Boyne Highlands Resort, Heather Course.
For more information on the Buick Junior Open, contact tournament
headquarters at (231) 526-3189.
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