Dialed-in DeRoche takes two-shot lead
Porvasnik holds steady in first place
AVON, Ohio — Evan DeRoche of Key West, Fla., shot a two-under-par 70, bringing his tournament total to 142, to take a two-shot lead in the Boys Division at the Cleveland Junior Open. Jessica Porvasnik remained on top in the Girls Division, carding five birdies en route to a two-under-par 70 (141 for the tournament) and a three-stroke lead.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Cleveland Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play competition played on the par-72, Red Tail Golf Club. The event features 71 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 17 states and three countries. The Boys Division played the course at 6,937 yards while the Girls Division played the course at 6,072 yards.
DeRoche started the second round strong, collecting two birdies and seven pars on the front nine, but it wasn't until No. 16 that the rising junior put himself in a the final-round driver's seat. DeRoche banked home a 45-foot birdie putt, giving him a jolt in the process.
“It came in with speed,” DeRoche said. “That putt gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
Ian Holt of Stow, Ohio, is in second place at even-par 144, Nicholas Jan of Northbrook, Ill., is in third at 1-over-par 145, and Sean Crocker of Westlake Village, Calif., sits in fourth at 2-over-par 146. Jacob Kreuz of Amherst, N.Y., and Frank Garber of Kirkland, Wash., are in a tie for fifth at 5-over-par 149.
In the Girls Division, Porvasnik didn't wait long to assert herself in the second round.
“I got off to a great start…I birdied the first hole.” Porvasnik said. “I birdied both No. 5 and No. 6 and I just got going from there.”
If Porvasnik's lead holds, she will repeat as champion of the Cleveland Junior Open.
Rounding out the Girls Division, Kari Bellville of Granger, Ind., is in second at even-par 144, while Ju-Hee Bae of Chantilly, Va., is in third at 5-over-par 149.
About the AJGA
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 5,500 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, 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.
Final-round tee times will run from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at Red Tail Golf Club. For more information about the Cleveland Junior Open, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (678) 571-7994.
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