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AJGA ASHWORTH POSTSEASON JUNIOR AT SOUTH
PADRE ISLAND
South Padre Island Golf Club
Laguna Vista, Texas
September 20-22, 2002
NELSON SITS ATOP LEADERBOARD IN SOUTH PADRE
Seventy-eight boys compete in post season event
LAGUNA VISTA, Texas - Jon Nelson of Spring, Texas,
fired a 2-under-par 70 Saturday to capture the lead after
first-round play at the AJGA Ashworth Postseason Junior at
South Padre Island, held this weekend at the par-72 South
Padre Island Golf Club.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Ashworth
Postseason Junior at South Padre Island features 78 boys representing
six states. Sixty-two Texans are competing in the event.
Nelson started the day with a bang, making birdie on his first
hole, No. 10. The 17-year-old continued to cruise on his front
side, bagging three more birdies on Nos. 13, 15 and 17 to
make the turn at 4-under 32. One of the most pivotal points
in his round came on the par-3, 155-yard 15th when Nelson
sunk a 15-foot birdie putt.
"I was really focused after that putt (on No. 15),"
said Nelson, who hit 16 of 18 greens. "On my front side,
I was playing awesome. On the back, my birdie putts just wouldn't
fall. The wind picked up on the back, which made it a little
tougher."
Despite gusty wind conditions, Nelson said the golf course
played to his strengths.
"I really like this course," Nelson said. "It's
wide open, so you can go after your driver, but still keep
it in play. On the greens, if you get on line, your putts
will go in every time."
Pat Strandemo of Encinitas, Calif., sits one shot off the
pace in second place after firing a 1-under-par 71. Although
Strandemo started with a bogey on his first hole, No. 10,
the 17-year-old stormed back with an eagle on the par-5, 501-yard
13th and back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to go 3-under
on his first nine holes.
Brandon Jones of San Antonio, Texas, is in third place, posting
a 36-37-73. Donald Nielsen of El Dorado Hills, Calif., carded
a 2-over-par 74 to take sole possession of fourth place.
Eight players round out the top five at 3-over-par 75, including
Luke Calcatera of Keller, Texas; Mark Lindsey of Houston;
Stetson Perez of Sonora, Texas; David Gibson, Corpus Christi,
Texas; Jeremy Reed of Houston; Matt Powell of Coppell, Texas;
Josh Irving of Mansfield, Texas, and Travis Pickett of Georgetown,
Texas.
The final round will be an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday,
September 22 at South Padre Island Golf Club.
For more information on the AJGA Ashworth Postseason Junior
at South Padre Island, contact tournament headquarters at
(956) 943-3622.
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