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AJGA PRESEASON JUNIOR AT LAS CRUCES
Picacho Hills Country Club
Las Cruces, N.M.
April 13-14, 2002
BOONE SITS ATOP LEADERBOARD AFTER FIRST ROUND AT PICACHO
HILLS
El Paso native takes two-shot lead into final round after
first-round 72
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Kevan Boone of El Paso, Texas,
fired an even-par 72 Saturday to take the first-round lead
at the inaugural AJGA Preseason Junior at Las Cruces. Moises
Cobo of Seville, Spain, sits in second place after a 2-over-par
74.
The 36-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association
at par-72 Picacho Hills Country Club, features 84 boys (ages
13-18) from 21 states and Spain. Six New Mexico natives are
entered in the field, including three players from Las Cruces.
The AJGA's Preseason Junior Series was created three years
ago to give more juniors a chance to gain national exposure.
The Las Cruces event is the second of four preseason events
the AJGA will conduct in 2002, and the top-15 finishers will
each walk away with at least one automatic entry into an AJGA
event this summer.
One of those players in great position to earn an automatic
entry is Boone. The 17-year-old's steady play (14 fairways
and 14 greens) led to five birdies and a spot atop the day
one leaderboard.
"I had some trouble at first and was lipping out a lot
of putts," said Boone, a Coronado High School junior.
"I probably should have made some more birdies because
I was hitting it so close to the hole. My irons were real
solid."
Boone came into Saturday's round with a target score of 73
in his head - and nearly posted a score much lower. He was
2-under after 16 holes before bogeying his final two holes.
Despite his success in the first round, he's not changing
his expectations on day two.
"I planning on shooting for the same score," Boone
said. "Hopefully I'll make a few more putts if my irons
are as good."
Cobo (37-37-74) tallied three birdies in the first round to
snag sole possession of second. Jared Hoffman (37-38-75) of
Phoenix is alone in third, while Texans Kyle Maze (38-38-76)
of Round Rock and Brian Noonan (38-38-76) of Austin round
out the top five in a tie for fourth.
Final-round action gets underway Sunday at 7:30 a.m. off the
first and 10th tees at Picacho Hills Country Club. For more
information on the Preseason Junior at Las Cruces, contact
tournament headquarters at (505) 523-5310, extension 222.
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