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AJGA FIRST STATE BANK SOUTHWESTERN JUNIOR
CLASSIC
Isleta Eagle Golf Course
Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 28-31, 2002
WILCOX FLIES HIGH AT ISLETA EAGLE
Todd shoots 69 for Girls Division lead
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Chad Wilcox of Peoria, Ariz.,
carded a 5-under-par 67 to claim the first round lead at the
AJGA First State Bank Southwestern Junior Classic. Phoenix
native Lauren Todd fired a 3-under-par 69 to take a one-stroke
lead in the Girls Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, this 54-hole,
three-day event is being held at the par-72 Isleta Eagle Golf
Course. The 99-player field features players from 15 states,
including four Polo Golf Junior All-Americans. Twenty-one
New Mexico natives are representing their home state.
Wilcox, who finished fifth at this event last year, got off
to a quick start with birdies on holes No. 5 and 6. After
that, he went on to eagle No. 10 and birdie holes No. 12 and
16. Wilcox hit 14 greens in regulation and was pleased with
the way he drove the ball.
"I really like how this course sets up for me,"
Wilcox said. "I have been driving the ball great lately
and that is key at Isleta Eagle. The front nine is really
tough and I was lucky to get through there under par. I knew
that finishing the front even-par or better would be critical
to going low."
One shot behind Wilcox is Polo Golf Junior All-American Randy
Lowry of Spring, Texas, at 69. Charlie Beljan of Mesa, Ariz.,
Ben Arrington of Tucson, Ariz., and Brett Myers of Broken
Arrow, Okla., all carded 70 to round out the Boys Division
top five.
In the Girls Division, Todd gained confidence after a long
drive on No. 2 and never looked back. She had no three-putts
in her bogey-free round, but said she needs to work on her
long putts.
"Today I wanted to base everything off my drives,"
the 17-year-old Todd said. "My irons are coming around
so I was able to hit 14 greens. I love this course and I am
really excited about how I drove the ball today."
Second-team All-American Kelly Husted of Sarasota, Fla., shot
70. Ashley Rollins of Austin, Texas, finished the first round
in third place at 71.
Second-round action begins Thursday at 7 a.m. off the No.
1 tee of Isleta Eagle Golf Course's Mesa Course.
For more information about the AJGA First State Bank Southwestern
Junior Classic or any other AJGA events, please call tournament
headquarters at 505-869-0590.
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