Two Eagles Send Perrine Flying to the Front in the Sean O'Hair Junior All-Star Championship
Abe goes into the final round with a 2-stroke lead in the Girls Division

LUBBOCK, Texas — Matthew Perrine of Austin, Texas carded two eagles on the front nine that vaulted him into the top spot in the Boys Division after the second round. Lakareber Abe of Angleton, Texas, proved to be unaffected by a rain delay as she held on to her lead in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Sean O'Hair Junior All-Star Championship is a 54-hole stroke-play event held at The Rawls Course at Texas Tech University. The 94-player field features 77 boys and 17 girls from 17 states, Barbados, Canada, Colombia, Mexico and the Philippines. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,816 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 5,977 yards.

The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series is a collection of 10 events specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15 and presents opportunities for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into Open tournaments. The series concludes with the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

Perrine was on fire early in his round as he eagled Nos. 2 and 9 to give him a 1-stroke lead on the rest of the field with a two-day total of 5-under-par 139. Perrine credited his eagles and his low score to his short game.

“I chipped and putted very well today,” said Perrine. “I was not hitting my irons very well, but my chipping and putting saved me.”

Just one stroke back from the leader after two rounds is Corbin Kasten of Southlake, Texas, who sits at 4-under par 140. Austin Eoff of Benton, Ark., and Daniel Jaramillo of Medellin, Colombia are currently tied for third with totals of 3-under-par 141. Rounding out the leaders in the Boys Division are Rigel Fernandes of Bradenton, Fla., and Brandon Pierce of Covington, La., who both sit at 2-under-par 142.

In the Girls Division, Abe has separated herself from the field with a two-day total of 3-under-par 141. A rain delay brought Abe off of the course just a few holes after starting, but she managed to put together a successful round even after returning to play in harsh conditions.

“Playing in this wind was very difficult,” said Abe. “The wind was pushing the ball all over the place.”

Abe has been playing in AJGA events since 2008 and appears to be confident heading into the final round with the lead.

“I'm comfortable heading into tomorrow because I know there are a lot of holes out there that I can make birdies on,” said Abe.

Playing in just her second AJGA event, Hee Wook Choi of San Diego, heads into the final round sitting in second place after finishing the second round at 1-under-par 143. In third place in the Girls Division is Tatiana Pineda of Bogota, Colombia after finishing the first two rounds at even-par 144.

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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

The final round will be an 8 a.m. shotgun on Thursday, July 8. For more information about the Sean O'Hair Junior All-Star Championship, please contact Tournament Headquarters at 806-742-4653.