Meth and Ree Share Lead after First Round
Silva leads Girls Division in the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Open

STOCKTON, Calif. — Byron Meth of San Diego, and Ryann Ree of Redondo Beach, Calif., jumped out to an early lead in the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Open with first-round totals of 4-under-par 68. Local golfer Layney Silva of Stockton, Calif., leads the Girls Division after carding a 2-under-par 70.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke-play event held at The Reserve at Spanos Park. The 99-player field features 72 boys and 27 girls, ages 12-18, from seven states, Mexico and Thailand. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course from 7,037 yards and the Girls Division is playing from 6,241 yards.

After three years of playing in the AJGA, Meth is excited to have seized a share of the lead for the first time in an AJGA event. Meth was able to finish the first round as one of the leaders due to his strong finish on the back nine where he tallied five birdies.

“I need to go out and repeat my performance in the next two rounds; I just need to keep hitting fairways and greens,” said Meth.

Tied with Meth atop the leaderboard in the Boys Division is Ree. He had the best AJGA finish of his career earlier this year when he tied for third at the Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out, and is now looking to take home his first title.

“I feel good about leading after the first round,” said Ree. “I just need to keep playing my game and see what happens.”

Just one stroke behind the leaders, Yi Keun Chang of Diamond Bar, Calif., Jonathan Lai of Arcadia, Calif., and Jeremy Choi of Bakersfield, Calif., sit in a three-way tie for third after they all finished the first round with scores of 3-under-par 69.

In the Girls Division, Silva leads the way after the first round with a total of 2-under-par 70. Silva was very excited to find herself leading the event that takes place in her home town of Stockton. She credited her lead to being able to knock down her putts.

“My putting was working well today,” said Silva. “I made a 40-foot, downhill birdie putt on No. 16.”

Despite the fact that Silva is leading in only her second AJGA event, she has maintained her composure and is focused on continuing to play well.

“I just have to keep a good attitude,” said Silva. “Staying positive will help me handle the pressure of leading a tournament.

Lilia Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Jacqueline Chulya of Bangkok, Thailand are tied for second in the Girls Division after posting scores of 1-under-par 71.

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.

Second-round tee times for the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Open will run from 7:30 a.m. — 12:50 p.m. For more information about the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Open, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (678) 327-6982.