Caparros takes the lead at the AJGA Florida Junior
Forero leads by two strokes at Weston Hills Country Club - Tour Course
WESTON, Fla. — Kristian Caparros of Miami Lakes, Fla., carded a 5-under-par 67 to lead after the first round of the AJGA Florida Junior at Weston Hills Country Club — Tour Course. Natalia Forero of Cali, Colombia, sits atop the leaderboard in the Girls Division after shooting a 3-under-par 69.
The AJGA Florida Junior is a 54-hole tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Weston Hills Country Club — Tour Course. The event features 54 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from nine states and 10 countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,987 yards while the Girls Division is playing the course at 6,095 yards.
Caparros completed the front nine at even-par. Despite the rain delay, Caparros made 5 birdies on the back nine at Weston Hills Country Club — Tour Course, to finish with a total of six birdies for the day.
“I birdied No. 11, then also birdied No. 12 and just kept it together,” Caparros said. “I was just waiting for the day to come when I made everything and I guess today was the day I made everything.”
In second place Edward Figueroa of Naples, Fla., carded 3-under-par 69, and Austin Powell of Jupiter, Fla., is in third with 2-under-par 70. Carlos Pena of Mission, Texas, Jorge Garcia of Miami, Fla., and Remec Carlson of Bradenton, Fla., carded 1-under-par 71 to tie for fourth place.
Forero finished fourth at the AJGA Florida Junior in 2010. Tuesday's first round included five birdies, which built her confidence.
“On No. 10 I had some difficulties in the practice round, but today I was able to birdie that hole and it gave me confidence to keep going further for the rest of the holes,” Forero said. “I am going to think I am starting from zero tomorrow and that it is my first day of the tournament.”
In the Girls Division, A.J. Newell of Tampa, Fla., is in second after the first round carding a 1-under-par 71. Yvonne Zheng of Bradenton, Fla., shot even-par 72 and is in third place.
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 more than 40 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, 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 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.
For more information on the AJGA Florida Junior please contact AJGA Headquarters at (678) 315-3446 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.
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