Familiar faces Pike and White share lead in Girls Division
Davis takes over Boys Division lead at Abilene Country Club - Club Course

ABILENE, Texas — A pair of long-time rivals Kirsten Pike of Ovilla, Texas, and Alexandra White of Honolulu sit atop the Girls Division leader board at 2-over-par 142 at the Aaron's / Bob Estes Abilene Junior. Connor Davis of Olive Branch, Miss., shot a 3-under-par 67 to take the lead in the Boys Division with a tournament total of 7-under-par 133.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Aaron's / Bob Estes Abilene Junior is a 54-hole stroke play event with a 36-hole cut at Abilene Country Club — Club Course. The field was cut to the low 57 boys and ties, and the low 18 girls following Wednesday's second round. The tournament field consists of 96 boys and 39 girls from eight states and Mexico. The Boys Division plays the par-70 course at 6,305 yards and the Girls Division plays at 5,655 yards.

Pike's up-and-down round of 3-over-par 73 left the door open for White, who fired a 1-under-par 69 Wednesday. The girls, who began competing against one another at age 7, agreed that playing in the final group with a familiar foe will be rewarding.

“Going into the final round, knowing each other for that long, it's kind of exciting,” White said.

“Pretty much, I'm just kind of planning to stay in rhythm, relax and have fun,” Pike said. “It'll be a lot of fun; I'm excited.”

Mackenzie Boydston of Keller, Texas, sits in third at 4-over-par 144.

Davis, who recently verbally committed to Ole Miss, said he was satisfied with a 67 but felt like he could have gone even lower.

“I had several putts that I should have made, to be honest with you,” Davis said. “But then again, I'm happy I'm leading.”

Heading into Thursday's final round with a one-stroke lead, Davis said his focus will be on his short game.

“Obviously I'm hitting the ball great,” he said. “I just need to go out there, make putts and give myself a chance.”

Vincent Whaley of McKinney, Texas, Daniel De La Garza of Monterrey, Mexico, and Luke Kwon of Carrollton, Texas, are tied for second with tournament totals of 6-under-par 134. Tied for fifth at 5-under-par 135 are Frederick Wedel of The Woodlands, Texas, and Kalen Vos of Weslaco, Texas.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501©(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.

The final round of the Aaron's / Bob Estes Abilene Junior will tee off No. 1 at 7:48 — 9:36 a.m. and No. 10 from 7:45 — 9:48 a.m. For more information, please contact Tournament Director Katie Wilson at (352) 302-4842, or visit tournament headquarters located in the Board Room at the Abilene Country Club.

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