AJGA MORGAN RUN JUNIOR
Morgan Run Resort and Club
Rancho Santa Fe, California
June 17-20, 2002

MCGURK'S 66 EARNS FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT MORGAN RUN
Scholl and Cho top Girls Division with 3-under-par 68s

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. - Daniel McGurk of The Woodlands, Texas, fired a 5-under-par 66 Tuesday to take the first-round lead in the Boys Division at the AJGA Morgan Run Junior. California natives Summer Scholl of Riverside, and Polo Golf Junior All-American Irene Cho of La Habra, each shot 68 to take a four-stroke lead in the Girls Division.

The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, is being held at the par-71 Morgan Run Resort and Club. The 84-player field features players from 11 states, including 65 California natives and five Polo Golf Junior All-Americans.

McGurk was 2-under-par through seven holes, but bogeyed holes No. 8 and 9 to finish the front nine at even par. Three birdies and an eagle on the back nine helped push him to the front of the Boys Division.

"I was cruising on the front nine until I bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9," McGurk said. "I went to the back nine a little down, but I got fired up when I saved par from the bunker on No. 10. After that, I really got hot and things went well for me."

McGurk finished his round with an eagle, five birdies and 10 pars. He credited his success to taking notes during the practice round and having the right mental attitude.

"I like this course a lot because the greens are big," McGurk said. "You are punished for a bad shot, but you can make up for it on the next shot. I took a lot of notes during my practice round and my plan is to play the par-3s and par-5s well. I'm happy with my round today and I'm going to keep the same mindset tomorrow."

Two shots behind McGurk is Michael Young of Jacksonville, Fla. Young birdied three of his first four holes en route to a 2-under-par 33 on the front nine and added an eagle on the 506-yard, par-5 16th to help him finish with a 68.

All-American Zack Miller of San Rafael, Calif., Brandon Christianson of Valencia, Calif., and Ben Marsh of Paradise Valley, Ariz., round out the Boys Division top five at 69.

Scholl and Cho, who played in the same threesome, had similar first rounds as they shot 68 with bogey-free back nines. Both girls carded four birdies, 13 pars and one bogey on the day.
Scholl finished the front nine at even par, but birdies on holes Nos. 10, 14, and 18 helped her climb to the top of the Girls Division.

"I kept it in the fairway today and hit 16 greens," Scholl said. "My putting went well, so I had a really good day. I started the back nine with a birdie and cruised the rest of the way."

Cho, a University of Southern California signee, hit 17 greens in regulation and said her round did not go exactly as planned.

"My putting could have been better," Cho said. "After hitting so many greens I thought more putts would drop. I birdied the holes that I didn't expect to and didn't birdie the holes I planned to. It was all really strange, but I am happy with my score."

Rounding out the Girls Division top five are California natives Songyi Yi of San Diego, Nicole Smith of Riverside, Hannah Jun of San Diego, and Emma Stachowicz of Pacific Palisades at 72.

For more information on the AJGA Morgan Run Junior, please call tournament headquarters at (858) 756-2471, ext. 7202.

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