Shuman Grabs the Lead at Killington Junior Golf Championship

Southard leads Girls Division after second round at Green Mountain National Golf Course

KILLINGTON, Vt. — Jake Shuman of Needham, Mass., leads the Boys Division after a second-round score of 2-under-par 69 for a tournament total of 3-under-par 139. Isabel Southard of Sharon, Mass., leads the Girls Division after a 1-over-par 72 for the second round, bringing her tournament total to 3-over-par 145.

The Killington Junior Golf Championship is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington, Vt. The tournament field consists of 143 players from 17 states. The Boys Division is playing the par-71 course at 6,590 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 5,913 yards.

Shuman admitted to being nervous at the beginning of the round, but quickly found his footing and got his game underway.

“On No. 11 I hit out of the fairway bunker to put it in within five feet,” Shuman said. “I then sunk the putt for birdie which kind of started my momentum for the day.”

Shuman carded an impressive five birdies and 10 pars for the round. He came across trouble after the turn to his back nine, but a birdie on No. 6 put him back in the right direction.

“I've been hitting the ball well for the past month and played well at the Junior All-Star at Penn State,” Shuman said. “Finally all the parts of my game are coming together.”

Alex Levy of Austin, Texas, finished the round 1-under-par 70 for a tournament total of 1-over-par 143. Chris Wiatr of Woodbury, Conn., carded a 5-over-par 76 for a tournament total of 2-over-par 144. David Thompson of Shrewsbury, Mass., Patrick O'Leary of Milton, Mass., Douglas Kulikowski of Pittsford, N.Y., and Scott Jaster of Bryn Mawr, Pa., are all tied with a tournament total of 5-over-par 147.

Southard had a slow start to her second round, but quickly found momentum to turn her game around.

“I had three bogeys on the first my three holes of the day,” Southard said. “Then I made birdie on No. 15 and that gave me the push I needed to play well on the back.”

Southard finished the round strong with three birdies and 10 pars overall for the day. In preparation for the final round, Southard hopes to maintain her game from the previous days.

“I played pretty well in both rounds so far so I just want to try and stay focused and continue to play a solid game,” Southard said.

Christine Lin of Austin, Texas, carded a second round score of 2-over-par 73, bringing her to a 5-over-par 147 tournament total. Rounding out the top three in the Girls Division, was Alice Chen of Princeton, N.J., who carded a 3-over-par 74 for the second round for a tournament total of 7-over-par 149.

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 Killington Junior Golf Championship will be a 7:00 start from the Nos. 1 and 10 tees for both the Boys and Girls Divisions. For more information about the Killington Junior Golf Championship, please contact the Tournament Director Mark Finger at (678) 294-6051.