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AJGA HENRY-GRIFFITTS ROME
JUNIOR CLASSIC
Coosa Country Club
Rome, Ga.
May 28-31, 2002
KIRK LEADS THE PACK IN ROME
WITH A 7-UNDER-PAR 65
Lincicome holds one-shot margin in Girls Division
ROME, Ga. - Chris
Kirk of Woodstock, Ga., scorched the back nine of the par-72
Coosa Country Club with five birdies as he fired a 7-under-par
65 to take the first-round lead of the seventh annual AJGA
Henry-Griffitts Rome Junior Classic.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the 54-hole
tournament features 99 players with boys and girls representing
16 states and the Philippines, including 34 from Georgia.
This is the first of three AJGA tournaments that Henry-Griffitts
will sponsor in the
2002 season.
Kirk, 17, got off to a great start, making birdie on three
of his first four holes and making only one bogey during his
round. After a 34 on the front side, Moore continued to dominate
on the back nine as he birdied five of his first seven holes.
"I felt really good today," Kirk said. "I made
a lot of putts. My longest was 18 feet, but I made several
from 10 feet. I feel really confident right now with my lead.
I have never won an AJGA tournament before, but I have finished
second. I think it's my turn to win one."
Kirk has a two-shot lead over Scot Ploucha of Johnson City,
Tenn., who fired a 5-under 67, and a three-shot lead over
Mark Poulsen of Lake Mary, Fla. Poulsen carded six straight
birdies during his round en route to a 4-under-par 68. Ryan
Holler of Morehead City, N.C., shot a 69 and is in fourth
while five others are tied for fifth, including Will Dottley,
who finished second last year. The top local finisher was
Rome native David Hoyt, who is tied for 13th after shooting
even-par.
In the Girls Division, 16-year-old Polo Golf Junior All-American
Brittany Lincicome fired a 4-under-par 33-35--68, to take
the first-round lead. Lincicome, who hails from Pinellas Park,
Fla., had a bogey-free round, making birdie on three holes
on the front and one on the back.
"I played very consistently today," Lincicome said.
"I didn't make any bogeys and I hit my driver well. My
driver is my strong point; if I am hitting it straight, everything
else just seems to come together."
Julie Bartholomew of Marietta, Ga., is in second place after
making five birdies to shoot 69. Polo Golf Junior All-American
Mallory Code of Tampa, Fla., who is looking for her fourth
national title, shot a 1-under 71 and is tied with Columbia,
S.C., native Erica Battle.
Second-round tee times will begin Thursday at 7:30 a.m. on
the No. 1 tee at Coosa Country Club.
For more information on the Henry-Griffitts Rome Junior Classic,
contact tournament headquarters at (706) 234-2200 (ask for
the AJGA Headquarters).
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