Cahill Posts Even-Par 72 for the Lead at Rush Creek Golf Club
Keel Leads in Girls Division at W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Scott Cahill of Chicago recorded an even-par 72 to claim the lead after the first round of the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek. Seven players are tied for second in the Boys Division at 1-over-par 73 and are fighting for the lead. Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, British Colombia, carded four birdies to take the lead in the Girls Division also at 1-over-par 73.
The W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek is a 54-hole stroke play tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, Minn. The tournament field consists of 99 girls and boys ages 12-18 from 19 states, Canada and China. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,108 yards while the Girls Division is playing at 6,185 yards.
Cahill approached the tenth hole at 2-over-par 38 after a few rough holes on the front nine, but made a comeback with two consecutive birdies to finish the round. A major turning point for Cahill was on No. 13, where his approach shot hit the green five feet from the hole and he sank his first birdie putt. Only carding pars for the rest of the back nine, Cahill said his putting helped him complete the first round on top.
“I've been playing pretty well for the last few weeks,” Cahill said. “I'm not going to change anything. I love the golf course so if I keep playing well I'll be happy where I finish.”
Trailing just one stroke behind Cahill are Matthew Ross of Hartland, Wis., Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon, Wis., Yifan Liu of Guangzhou, China, Jack Holmgren of Corcoran, Minn., Patrick Johnston of Independence, Minn., Nicholas Glass of Fargo, N.D., and Dominic Todora of Woodbury, Minn., each sitting in second place.
Keel started her round with birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 5, but said she lost some of her focus on the back nine. She credited her strong first round to her putting, where she said her position on the green helped her make birdies.
“I made poor club choices on the back (nine),” Keel said. “But I got my mental game together to finish strong on the last two holes.”
Following Keel by one stroke in second place in the Girls Division is Casey Danielson of Osceola, Wis., while Sara Detlefsen of Eagan, Minn., and Michele Chun of Torrance, Calif., are tied for third at 3-over-par 75.
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 second round tee times will run from 7 a.m. — 12:20 p.m. off the first tee at Rush Creek Golf Club. For more information about the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek contact Tournament Headquarters at (763) 255-2963.
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