HESTER, COOK AND LYONS TIED FOR LEAD AT 3-UNDER-PAR 68 AT TPC SOUTHWIND
Defending champion Martindale leads Girls Division at 1-under-par 70

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Dean Hester of Dublin, Ga., Austin Cook of Jonesboro, Ark., and Landon Lyons of Baton Rouge, La., are tied for the lead at 3-under-par 68 after the first round of the Stanford Financial Junior Championship hosted by David Gossett. Kendall Martindale of Jefferson City, Tenn., started strong in her title defense, leading the Girls Division after a round of 1-under-par 70 on Tuesday.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Stanford Financial Junior Championship hosted by David Gossett is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at TPC Southwind. The tournament field consists of 60 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 20 states and Canada. The Boys Division is playing the par-71 course at 6,944 yards, while the Girls Division is being played at 5,990 yards.

Hester’s round included five birdies and two bogeys. He said solid play from the tee was the difference in his round.

“I hit a lot of fairways and that was the key,” Hester said. “The greens here are so fast it’s tough to scramble around here.”

Lyons’ round featured four birdies and one eagle. The eagle, which Lyons described as “lucky”, came on No. 5, a 527-yard par-5.

“I had about a 40-footer for eagle and when I hit I thought it was going to be really short,” Lyons said. “It must have been more downhill than I thought because it just kept rolling and went in.”

Cook’s day started ominously as he double bogeyed his first hole of the day. The medalist from Sunday’s Qualifier was able to turn his day around by recording four birdies and an eagle on his remaining holes.

“I just didn’t let my head and temper get in the way,” Cook said. “I really grinded it out.”

Zachary Butler of Lexington, Ky., sits alone in fourth place after a 1-under-par 70. Tied for fifth place at even-par 71 are Jacob Everts of Ooltewah, Tenn., and Myles Lewis of Metairie, La.

Martindale made four birdies against two bogeys in the opening round. She said that almost every facet of her game was working well.

“I played really well except for the last few holes,” Martindale said. “Other than that it was perfect.”

Amelia Lewis of Jacksonville, Fla., is in second place after a round of 1-over-72. In third place at 5-over-par 76 is Heather Lott of Baton Rouge, La.

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.

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.