Scaff Leads Boys Division at The Bridges Golf Club After First Round
Wright takes a one-stroke lead in the Girls Division into the final round

GUNTER, Texas — Thomas Scaff of Houston rode a back-nine 34 for a 2-over-par 74 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Preseason Junior at The Bridges Golf Club. Local competitor Kenzie Wright of Frisco, Texas, shot a 7-over-par 80 to claim the lead in the Girls Division.

The Preseason Junior at The Bridges Golf Club is a 36-hole stroke play tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association and plays at par-72 for the Boys Division and par-73 for the Girls Division. The 85-player field features 61 boys and 24 girls from a total of 19 states and Colombia. The Boys Division is playing at 6,930 yards and the Girls Division plays at 5,976 yards.

After fighting strong winds during the practice round on Friday and adjusting to much less windy conditions on Saturday, Scaff attributed his score to better weather as well as his putting.

“I was just happy for good weather because I definitely played worse in the practice round,” Scaff said. “I hit more greens on the back nine and relied on putting more than anything.”

Trailing Scaff in second is Ryan Argotsinger of Lee's Summit, Mo., with 3-over-par 75. Tied for third at 4-over-par 76 are Koan Woon Rim of Chandler, Ariz., Austin Connelly of Las Colinas, Texas, Jackson Stuteville of Durant, Okla., and Vincent Whaley of McKinney, Texas.

Wright, one of the youngest players in the field at age 13, used birdies on Nos. 4 and 17 to enter the clubhouse as the Girls Division leader.

“I made a 10-foot putt on 17 and it was one of the better ones of the day,” Wright said. “It's feels great to be so young and to lead an AJGA event. Tomorrow I'm going to go out and shoot the best I can and hopefully hold on.”

Isabella Loza of Bucaramanga, Colombia, and Allie Agrella of Austin, Texas are tied for second at 8-over-par 81.

The AJGA's Preseason Junior Series is designed specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet been accepted to or participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series event in the current calendar year and/or the previous calendar year.

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 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 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 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.

For more information about the Preseason Junior at The Bridges Golf Club, contact tournament headquarters at (687) 485-1135 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.