AJGA STEEL CITY JUNIOR CLASSIC
Totteridge Golf Club
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
July 21-24, 2003

RODGERS FIRES 1-OVER-PAR 73 TO CLAIM THREE-STROKE LEAD
Tavee extends lead to four strokes after second round

GREENSBURG, Pa. - Greg Rodgers of Phoenix, Md., was only able to muster one birdie Wednesday, but it was enough to hold his lead after the second round of the AJGA Steel City Junior Classic. Tiffany Tavee of Gilbert, Ariz., used three birdies in the first five holes to extend her lead to four strokes going into the final round.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the tournament features 84 boys and girls, ages 13-18, representing 18 states. The 54-hole event runs Tuesday through Thursday at the Totteridge Golf Club in Greensburg, Pa.

Even though he was able to keep his lead, Rodgers was not satisfied with his play for the day.

"I was hitting good shots, they just weren't ending up that good. Patience was the key for the day," he said.

Rodgers (70-73—143) notched his only birdie for the day on No. 12, but bogeyed No. 14. He made par on the final four holes to finish the day.

"It's just one of those days," Rodgers said.

The 17-year-old is not putting any added pressure on himself holding the lead going into the final round.

"Tomorrow is just the same thing as the two days before. It's going to be fun, I'm looking forward to the challenge," he said.

"Up and down," is how Tavee (77-76—153) describes her round. She birdied her first hole and double bogeyed the next two before making birdies on Nos. 4 and 5.

"I was a little down after the third hole," said Tavee. "But I tried to forget about the bad holes and get back to fairways and greens."

Tavee credits the greens as giving her some trouble through the round.

"I was trying to get a feel for the greens but it is so hard to judge the distance," Tavee said.

Rounding out the top-four in the Boys Division are Brian Belden of Emmaus, Pa., John Murphy of Wilton, Conn., and Kyle Hartlaub of Summit, N.J., all tied for second at 146. Murphy had the day's low round with a 71. John Sawin of Haverford, Pa., finished the day in fifth place with 147.

Nannette Hill of Pelham Manor, N.Y., moves to second place in the Girls Division after firing rounds of 79-78-157. Mayule Tomimbang of Kissimmee, Fla., and Heather Wright of Houston, Texas, scored 160s to finish the round in a tie for third.

Final-round tee times will begin at 7 a.m. on Thursday off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at the Totteridge Golf Club.

For more information on the AJGA Steel City Junior Classic contact tournament headquarters at (724) 837-6700, in the Totteridge Golf Club clubhouse.

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