Lu Leads After Opening-Round 1-Under-Par 71 at Randy Wise Junior Open
Armstrong on top in Girls Division at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club

GRAND BLANC, Mich. — Haoyuan Lu of Bradenton, Fla., made four birdies en route to a 1-under-par 71 to grab the lead after the first round of the Randy Wise Junior Open. Ashley Armstrong of Flossmoor, Ill., also carded a 1-under-par 71 to lead the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Randy Wise Junior Open is being held at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich. The field features 75 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 states, Indonesia, Thailand and Canada. The par-72 course is playing at 7,106 yards for the Boys Division and 6,038 yards for the Girls Division.

Lu was consistently hitting fairways with his driver and got some long putts to fall during the first round.

“I hit my driver really well today and that built my confidence up.” Lu said. “I also got a bit lucky and made a few long putts.”

Sean Friel of Rochester Hills, Mich., and Patrick Cansfield of Port Huron Mich., sit in a tie for second after opening with even-par rounds of 72. Jake McBride of Hartville, Ohio, Beau Titsworth of Avon, Ohio, Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights, Ill, John Chaney of Shaker Heights., Ohio, Henry Do of Ypsilanti, Mich., Chris Noble of Niles, Mich., Cody Simons of Grand Ledge, Mich., and Michael Nagy of Manistique, Mich., are all tied for fourth at 1-over-par 73.

In the Girls Division, Armstrong made five birdies despite finding the fairway just four times.

“My driver wasn't exactly my friend today, but my putter was there to save me,” Armstrong said. “I only hit four fairways, but my putter kept me in there.”

Christine Meier of Rochester Hills, Mich., is alone in second at 1-over-par 73. In third are Lauren English of Bloomington, Ill., and Alexandra Harkins of Crystal Lake, Ill., after opening the tournament with rounds of 2-over-par 74.

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.

Wednesday's second-round tee times for the Randy Wise Junior Open will run from 7 a.m. — 12:20 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club. For more information, please call Tournament Director Chris White at (770) 601-5196.