|
AJGA ROBERT TRENT JONES
GOLF TRAIL JUNIOR CLASSIC
Magnolia Grove Golf Club, Falls and Crossings Courses
Mobile, Alabama
August 29-September 2, 2002
CREAMER STILL HOT HEADING
INTO FINAL ROUND
Thomas snags lead in Boys Division
MOBILE, Ala. - Paula Creamer of Pleasanton, Calif.,
maintained her first-round Girls Division lead at the AJGA
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Junior Classic by shooting a
2-under-par 70 during Sunday's round at Magnolia Grove Golf
Club on the Crossings Course. Warren Thomas III of Columbia,
S.C., carded a 3-under-par 69 on the Falls Course to capture
control in the Boys Division.
The 54-hole tournament, conducted by the American Junior Golf
Association, features 165 players representing 24 states,
Singapore and Mexico. Fifteen participants call Alabama home.
Past champions include PGA TOUR players Ty Tryon (2000) and
David Gossett (1994) and LPGA tour player Beth Bauer (1995
and 1996).
In the Girls Division, Creamer, who fired a 1-over-par 73
in the opening round, controls her respective lead after carding
birdies on Nos. 2, 6, 8, 18, which tallied her an impressive
second-round total of 34-36-70.
The soon-to-be high school sophomore did not change anything
in her game to record a 2-day total of 73-70-143, but the
difference maker between the first and second round was her
birdie on the par-3, 163-yard, 8 th hole where she stuck her
tee shot within seven inches of the hole.
"I really like this course because it's definitely challenging
and suits my type of game," Creamer said. "This
course allows me to use all kinds of shots and lets me be
creative."
Creamer, who finished tied for second at the event last year
after losing in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff with Nicole
Hage of Coral Springs, Fla., and eventual champion Jackie
Beers of Midlothian, Va., hopes to redeem herself by bringing
home the trophy.
"It would be nice to win because I was so close last
year," the 16-year-old said. "I really like the
pressure of being in the lead because it motivates me."
Bringing home the tournament honors would not only add another
line to the first-team Polo Golf All-American's already lengthy
resume, but would deliver extra satisfaction due to the caliber
of the field.
"This would be a big AJGA win to earn and I hope I can
pull it off," she said.
Chasing Creamer will be fellow California native Jane Park
of Beaumont at 146, while Florida natives Brittany Lincicome
of Seminole and Jennifer Pandolfi of Navarre both trail at
148.
Warren Thomas III of Columbia, S.C., got off to a solid start
on his way to taking over sole possession of the leaderboard
in the Boys Division after the second round. Warren carded
his first birdie on the par-5, 531-yard 5 th hole, which carried
him to garner three more on Nos. 7, 9, and 13.
The South Carolina native had two secret weapons that contributed
to his two-day total of 73-69-142; his three wood and his
'new' swing.
"Last night before going to bed I thought about what
needed to be adjusted in my swing," he said. "When
I was hitting balls at the range this morning, I just worked
on the feeling of my swing."
Whatever the feeling was, it definitely worked. He ended his
near flawless round with a remarkable par on the final hole,
the 546-yard par-5 No. 18, by striking his third shot out
of the rough 230 yards with a 4-iron to place him on the green.
"I had a lot of good shots today and I only had to pull
out my driver three times," the 16-year-old said. "I
was very pleased with how well I played and plan to stay focused
heading into tomorrow's round."
Thomas's 2-under-par tournament total of 142, gives him a
two-shot advantage over Garrett Runion of Windermere, Fla.,
and first-round leader Christopher Anderson of Lake Mary,
Fla. Rounding out the top five only three shots behind Thomas
is Robert Gates Jr. of Gainesville, Fla., and Tyler Leon of
Dallas sits at 146.
Final-round action will take place Monday, September 2 with
the Boys Division shotgun beginning at 8 a.m. on the Falls
Course while play in the Girls Division runs from 7-8:27 a.m.
off the No. 1 and 10 tees on the Crossings Course at Magnolia
Grove Golf Club.
For more information on the AJGA Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
Junior Classic please contact our tournament headquarters
at (251) 645-9565.
#AJGA#
|
