SOBEL SHOOTS 10-UNDER-PAR 62 TO TAKE LEAD IN THE HERITAGE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Cangrejo and Sylvan are tied for the lead in the Girls Division at 1-under-par 143

BLUFFTON, S.C. — Zachery Sobel of Clearwater Beach, Fla., leads at 14-under-par 130 at the Heritage Junior Championship at Berkeley Hall for the Boys Division. Luz Alejandra Cangrejo of Bogota, Colombia and Katie Sylvan of San Diego, leads the Girls Division at 1-under-par 143.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Heritage Junior Championship is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at the Berkeley Hall — South Course. The tournament field consists of 59 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 18 states, Northern Ireland, Canada and Columbia. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,059 yards, while the Girls Division is playing at 6,187 yards.

Sobel broke the Berkeley Hall — South Course competitive course record with a second round score of 10-under-par 62. He made 10 birdies for the round and no bogeys.

“I shot 68 yesterday and knew I could improve,” Sobel said. “I am excited because I knew I left some shots out there yesterday and wanted to improve on that today. And I did.”

Sobel's round Wednesday, a personal best, ties him with three other individuals for the second-lowest 18-hole round in AJGA history. Sobel would need a final-round score of 67 in order to tie for the current AJGA 54-hole record at 19-under-par 154. Sobel said that maintaining his focus will be the key to Thursday's final round.

“I just need to stay intense and maintain my will to compete,” Sobel said. “I am not, and will not, be satisfied until the 54th hole is over. Today is just a step towards tomorrow.”

Smylie Kaufman of Birmingham, Ala., sits in second place at 6-under-par 138. Michael Montgomery of Hilton Head Island, S.C., John Varol of Weddington, N.C., and Joseph Byun of Sanford, Fla., are tied in third place at 3-under-par 141.

Cangrejo shot a 1-under-par 71 to tie for the lead. She was 3-over-par on the front nine, but 4-under-par on the back nine. In all, Cangrejo totaled 5 bridies for the second round.

”I started really distracted and not focused at all”, Cangrejo said. “But then I woke up, did my best and was able to shoot 4-under on the back.”

Sylvan continued to hold on to a tie for first place after the second round with three birdies.

“My best shot today was on No. 17,” Sylvan said. “I hit my approach shot within about three feet and was able to birdie the par-5.”

Sylvan said her goal is to hit more greens tomorrow as well as improve on her putting in order to maintain a lead for the tournament.

Carlie Yadloczky of Casselberry, Fla., sits in third place with 1-over-par 145.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 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, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

Final-round tee times for the Heritage Junior Championship will start at 7:30 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Berkeley Hall — South Course. For more information on the Heritage Junior Championship, please call AJGA Tournament Headquarters (843) 815-3653.