Niebrugge's Second 73 Gives Him Two-Shot Lead in W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek
Detlefsen takes command of Girls Division at Rush Creek Golf Club

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Consistency has paid off for Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon, Wis., who carded a 1-over-par 73 for the second consecutive day to take the lead after two rounds of the W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek. Sara Detlefsen of Eagan, Minn., also shot a 73 and came from two shots back to take the lead in the Girls Division at Rush Creek Golf Club.

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.

Stuck in a seven-way tie after the first round, Niebrugge's round had some ups and downs, but he was able to climb his way to the top and open up a two-shot lead when the dust settled. He got off to a hot start with birdies on the first two holes and added one more on the back nine on his way to the tournament lead at 2-over-par 146.

“I took advantage of the first couple of holes to make sure I was safe for the harder holes,” Niebrugge said. “I hit a lot of solid shots on the back nine.”

Patrick Johnston of Independence, Minn., is in second place at 4-over-par 148 followed by Jordan Wetsch of St. Charles, Ill., who is at 5-over-par 149. Miles Knutsen of Orono, Minn., and Camden Nierman of Scottsdale, Ariz., are tied for fourth place in the Boys Division at 6-over-par 150.

Detlefsen, who sits at 4-over-par 148, also came out firing as the round began by sticking her approach shot on No. 1 to four-feet and was able to convert for birdie. She followed that up with a birdie on No. 2 and was able to maintain a steady round the rest of the way.

“It was relatively steady and my putting was good,” Detlefsen said. “I made a few birdies and I made a few bogeys. Overall it was good—I enjoyed myself out there today.”

Detlefsen is being chased in the Girls Division by Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, British Columbia, who is in second at 5-over-par 149. Casey Danielson of Osceola, Wis., is in third place at 6-over-par 150.

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 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.