De La Garza Holds on to Leader Spot at AJGA Lubbock Junior
Ferreira Becomes Sole Leader
at The Rawls Course at Texas Tech University
LUBBOCK, Texas — Daniel De La Garza of Monterrey, Mexico, shot a 3-under-par 69 in Thursday's second round of the AJGA Lubbock Junior for a tournament total of 9-under-par 135 to lead by one stroke in the Boys Division. In the Girls Division, Jordan Ferreira of University Place, Wash., carded a 2-under-par 70 for a tournament total of 3-under-par 141 to lead by 1-stroke.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA Lubbock Junior is a 54-hole stroke play event at The Rawls Course at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The tournament field consists of 72 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18 from 12 states, Mexico and Colombia. The Boys Division plays the par-72 course at 7,046 yards and the Girls Division plays at 6,221 yards.
De La Garza said he feels confident going into Friday's final round due to his ball striking consistency and solid putting.
“I am very happy with my performance, because I have been working very hard to accomplish this,” De La Garza said. “We still have one more day, so hopefully I will be able to play well.”
Corbin Kasten of Southlake, Texas, and Kolton Lapa of Mesa, Ariz., are tied for second at 8-under-par 136. Li Wang of Sammamish, Wash., sits in fourth with a tournament total of 7-under-par 137. Tad Darland of Henderson, Nev., sits in fifth place at 6-under-par 138.
Ferreira, whose round featured three birdies and one bogey on the back nine, said she had fun during Thursday's round and she was satisfied with her iron play.
“I was able to put my approach shots pretty close, and I was mentally prepared,” Ferreira said. “I left a few strokes out there, so I am going to work on my putting in order to prepare for tomorrow's final round.”
Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif., sits in second with a tournament total of 2-under-par 142. Mackenzie Boydston of Keller, Texas, and Allie Johnston, of Castle Rock, Colo., are tied for third at 1-over-par 145.
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, 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.
The final round of the AJGA Lubbock Junior will begin at 7:45 a.m. off No. 10 and 7:55 a.m. off No. 1. For more information about the AJGA Lubbock Junior, please contact AJGA Tournament Headquarters at (678) 485-1135, or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.
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