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AJGA JOHN DEERE CLASSIC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Glynn's Creek Golf Course
Long Grove, Iowa
August 13-16, 2002
PEEVLER, HALL TIED FOR LEAD
AT JOHN DEERE
Reed retains possession of first in Girls Division
LONG GROVE, Iowa
- Cole Peevler of Keokuk, Iowa, and Patrick Hall of Owatonna,
Minn., share control of the lead at 7-under-par 137 heading
into the final round of play at the AJGA John Deere Classic
Junior Championship. In the Girls Division, Christie Reed
of Coral Springs, Fla., posted an even-par 72 to stay atop
the leaderboard.
The John Deere Classic Junior Championship, conducted by the
American Junior Golf Association at the par-72 Glynn's Creek
Golf Course, features 99 players representing 19 states and
Canada, with the majority of competitors hailing from Illinois.
Peevler, who entered the second round in a tie for seventh
place, bagged three birdies on each nine, including consecutive
birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 4, en route to a round of 33-33-66.
Peevler punctuated his round with solid iron play and a strong
putting performance; he had only 27 putts with none more than
15 feet.
"I've been working on my iron shots lately, and I was
hitting them pretty well today," said the 15-year-old.
"Putting was the biggest difference between the two rounds."
Peevler, who fired his second career bogey-free round, is
looking to better his best AJGA finish of eighth at last season's
AJGA Compaq Junior All-Star Classic.
"Tomorrow, I just need to focus on keeping the ball in
the fairway and hitting greens," Peevler said.
Hall, a senior-to-be, struck early and often, carding just
one bogey and five birdies on the first nine holes. A 20-foot
downhill putt for birdie on the par-3, 176-yard second began
a streak of three straight birdies for Hall. A bogey and a
double bogey on the back nine, however, finalized the 18-year-old's
second-round 32-39-71 and put him at 7-under for the tournament
(66-71-137).
"I played the front exactly the way I wanted to today,
but I struggled to get up-and-down on a few holes on the back,"
Hall said. "The last three holes were really difficult
with 30 mile per hour wind gusts blowing in your face."
Peevler and Hall hold a three-stroke advantage over Steve
Sass (72-68-140) of Mequon, Wis., and Mark Conlon (69-71-140)
of Arlington, Texas, who are tied for third place at 4-under-par
for the tournament. Trent Leon (73-69-142) of Dallas, Texas,
and Bennet Hammerberg (72-70-142) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, round
out the top five.
In the Girls Division, Reed carded a 72 for the second consecutive
day to maintain a five-stroke lead over the rest of the field.
On the par-5, 485-yard ninth, Reed stuck her approach shot
to within one foot of the hole to grab one of three birdies
on the day.
"I played more steady today," said the 16-year-old.
"I'm going to go into tomorrow with a good mindset. My
best bet is to keep things consistent and not worry about
trying to do anything special."
Taylor Leon of Dallas, Texas, is in sole possession of second
place after posting rounds of 73-76-149. Christi Athas of
Eldora, Iowa carded rounds of 74-76-150 for third place.
Final-round tee times will begin Friday, August 16, at 7 a.m.
off the No. 1 tee at Glynn's Creek Golf Course.
For more information on the AJGA John Deere Classic Junior
Championship, contact tournament headquarters at (563) 285-6635.
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