LEE AND WORRELL SHARE FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB
McCloskey up by two strokes in Girls Division at Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout
SAN ANTONIO — David Lee of Houston and Chris Worrell of Enid, Okla., each fired a 4-under-par 68 to share the lead after the opening round of the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout. Lisa McCloskey of Montgomery, Texas, posted a 2-under-par 70 to grab an early lead in the Girls Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at The Dominion Country Club. The tournament field consists of 90 boys and 30 girls, ages 12 to 18, from 10 states, Washington D.C., Mexico and Venezuela. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,849 yards, while the Girls Division is playing the course at 6,162 yards.
Lee had an exciting front nine as he chipped in on No. 2 and holed out on No. 4. Lee recorded two eagles and only 21 putts but attributed the day's success to lucky breaks.
“On No. 4 I was 160 yards out from the hole,” Lee said. “I had an eerie feeling about it going in but I didn't think I was going to make it. Then I popped it in there.”
Worrell began the round with a birdie and continued to play consistently carding seven birdies on the day. Worrell plans to use the same strategy to maintain his lead in Wednesday's second round.
“I need to pick out a spot, trust it and hit it where I want to,” Worrell said. “If the spot is off I just have to make up for it and not get too complicated.”
Trailing Lee and Worrell is Hayden Stephens of Georgetown, Texas, in third place at 3-under-par 69. Bobby Lee Robinson of Mesa, Ariz., and Hudson Hansard of Austin, Texas, sit tied for fourth at 2-under-par 70.
In the Girls Division, McCloskey carded four birdies and an eagle on No. 9 to finish the first round with a two stroke advantage. In her final AJGA event, McCloskey hopes to continue her solid play throughout the tournament.
“I want to be in the 60s. Especially coming from Rolex Tournament of Champions, I want to stay consistent and make a couple of birdies,” McCloskey, the 2006 champion of the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout, said.
Amy Ruengmateekhun of Garland, Texas, sits in second place at even-par 72, followed by Gabriella Dominguez of Chilton, Texas, in third place at 1-over-par 73.
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 largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 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.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.
The second round of the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout is Wednesday, July 9 with tee times running off the No. 1 tee from 7 a.m. — 12:51 p.m. For more information please contact Tournament Headquarters at (210) 687-1133. |
