GALLETTI, JR. LEADS BOYS DIVISION BY ONE STROKE IN SAN RAMON
Liao also has one-shot lead in Girls Division

SAN RAMON, Calif. —  Roberto Galletti, Jr. of Clayton, Calif., fired a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday to lead the Boys Division at the Fidelity Investments Junior Open with a two-day total of even-par 144. In the Girls Division, Ki-Shui Liao of Alameda, Calif., carded a 1-over-par 73 for a tournament total of 10-over-par 154 and a one-stroke lead.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Fidelity Investments Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at The Bridges Golf Club. The tournament features 63 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 13 states and Canada.

Galletti got his round off to a solid start, carding pars on every hole on the front nine for a 36. The 17-year-old kicked it up a notch on the back side, beginning with the par-4 12th hole. He drove the green from off the tee and two-putted from 15 feet for his first birdie of the day. Galletti followed with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 en route to a 35.

“I did not do anything special out there, but did not do anything too bad either,” Galletti said. “It was an easygoing day.”

Galletti felt the key to his consistent round was his accurate drives. He hit 12 fairways on the day despite the course's tight landing areas and windy conditions.

“My driver was really working today, and that is so important out there,” Galletti said. “I need to do the same thing off the tee tomorrow.”

Galletti who has signed to play for the University of Nevada - Las Vegas beginning in the fall of 2006, is looking for his first win of the 2005 season. One stroke behind Galletti in second place are Jake Bieber of Alamo, Calif., Brett Bocci of Hillsborough, Calif., and Gregor Main of Danville, Calif., with tournament totals of 1-over-par 145. Sean Maekawa of Paauilo, Hawaii, carded a two-day total of 2-over-par 146 to stand alone in fifth place.

In the Girls Division, Liao was pleased with her 73, which featured a 37 on the front nine and a 36 on the back side with three birdies. Liao felt the key to surviving Saturday's tough conditions was course management, particularly on the tricky, undulating greens.

“With the hole locations today, you had to play smart,” Liao said. “You had to know when to go for it and when not to or else you could end up with a really big score.”

Liao also credited her solid round to accurate ball-striking, particularly with her approach shots. She hit 10 fairways and 13 greens on the day. On the par-5 No. 6, Liao hit her third shot from 90 yards out to within two feet of the hole and tapped in for birdie.

The tournament is bittersweet for Liao, who is playing in the last AJGA event of her career. She will begin at Stanford University in three weeks. Looking to spoil her swan song are Kimberly Johnson of San Diego, who carded a two-day total of 11-over-par 155 for sole possession of second place, and Nicole Ferrero of Lodi, Calif., who stands alone in third with a tournament total of 12-over-par 156.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 280 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Dottie Pepper, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Beth Bauer and Paula Creamer.

Monday's final round will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. For more information about the Fidelity Investments Junior Open, contact tournament headquarters at (925) 735-4235.

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