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AJGA SPOKANE JUNIOR CLASSIC
MeadowWood Golf Course
Liberty Lake, Washington
August 12-15, 2002
JORGENSEN LEADS SPOKANE JUNIOR CLASSIC
AT 6-UNDER
Svicarovich tops Girls Division at 2-under-par 70
LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. - Matt Jorgensen of Spokane, Wash.,
shot a 6-under-par 66 in the first round of the AJGA Spokane
Junior Classic to take a one-stroke lead over the Boys Division.
In the Girls Division, Kristen Svicarovich of Hillsboro, Ore.,
jumped ahead of the Girls field with a two-stroke lead.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA
Spokane Junior Classic is being held at the par-72 MeadowWood
Golf Course in Liberty Lake, Wash. The 54-hole event features
99 players from 12 states and Canada, including 41 Washington
natives.
Jorgensen's round got off to a good start with birdies on
three of the first four holes. His streak included sinking
a chip for birdie from 30 feet on the par-5, 561-yard second
hole. The 17-year-old finished the front nine at 3-under-par
33.
"I hit the ball really well today and my putting was
the key to going low," Jorgensen said. "My round
got off to a great start when I birdied the first two holes.
That gave me some confidence and I was able to play my game
the rest of the day."
On the back nine, Jorgensen opened with birdies on holes No.
11 and 12. He followed with five pars and a birdie on the
par-4, 392-yard 18th hole to score a 33 on the back nine and
finish at 33-33-66.
"This course is not too tight so you can go for a lot,"
Jorgensen said. "The greens were rolling solid and your
putts become easier to make. If the wind picks up, then this
course is going to play very different. I just want to continue
to hit the ball well and hit the fairways and greens in regulation."
Dustin Frontis of Yakima, Wash., and Soo Kyo Ahn of Tacoma,
Wash., are tied for second place at 33-34-67.
Frontis carded seven birdies during the first round, including
three sets of back-to-back birdies on holes No. 2 and 3, 7
and 8, and 14 and 15.
Ahn's front nine included a birdie on No. 5 and an eagle on
the par-5, 524-yard seventh hole. He also made consecutive
birdies on holes No. 15, 16 and 17 to finish his round at
5-under-par.
Seven players are tied for fourth at 69 and 22 players are
within four strokes of the lead.
In the Girls Division, Polo Golf Junior All-American Svicarovich
carded a 2-under-par 70 to take a two-stroke lead. The 17-year-old
drained five birdies during her round, finishing the day on
a high note with a birdie on the 364-yard, par-4 18th hole.
"My ball-striking was really good today and I was able
to hit 12 fairways," Svicarovich said. "I was a
little shaky off the first tee, but I was able to get up and
down for par. Making par or better on the first hole always
calms me down and I can move on with my round."
Svicarovich, who won the AJGA Marsico Funds Colorado Junior
Roundup in June, said a good practice round helped her develop
a solid game plan for the week.
"I mapped out the course during the practice round and
I really like it," Svicarvoich said. "The key is
to hit a lot of the fairways and you can attack most of the
holes. The course is in great shape and the soft greens allowed
me to stick some shots close to the hole. I'm going to stay
positive and the next two days should be a lot of fun."
Jamie Oliver of Long Beach, Calif., medalist in Monday's qualifier,
is in second place after firing an even-par 72. Renee Skidmore
of Everett, Wash., trails in third at 36-38-74.
Second-round action begins Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 7 a.m. off
the No. 1 tee of MeadowWood Golf Course.
For more information about the AJGA Spokane Junior Classic,
call AJGA tournament headquarters at (509) 255-5044.
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