Defending Champion Navarro Atop Girls Division Leaderboard at Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi
McClure and local golfer Carreon share early lead at The Club at Sonterra - South Course

SAN ANTONIO — Dylan McClure of Argyle, Texas and Andrew Carreon of San Antonio have the early lead at the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi after shooting a 2-under-par 69. Defending champion, Marijosse Navarro of San Antonio holds a three shot lead after the first round in the Girls Division at The Club at Sonterra – South Course.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi is a 54-hole stroke play event held at The Club at Sonterra—South Course in San Antonio. The 120-player field features junior golfers from 6 states, Colombia and Mexico. The Boys Division is playing the par-71 course at 6,640 yards while the Girls Division is playing from 5,923 yards.

After an even-par front nine, Carreon, who signed a letter of intent to play for Notre Dame this coming fall, started his back nine with a birdie and continued his strong play with birdies on Nos. 14 and 17.

“I knew after I hit my drive in the fairway on No. 17 that I would have a good birdie chance and finish strong, and that's what I did,” Carreon said. “Tomorrow, I hope to play like I did today, and if I putt a little better I should stay right in the mix of things.”

McClure went out and played stress-free and consistent, carding five birdies and only three bogeys throughout the round. He attributed his good round to his putting.

“I putted really well today, “McClure said. “I made a lot of putts and it is always nice when you can go a full round without a three-putt.”

Another local golfer, Christian De La Cruz of San Antonio sits in third place, one shot behind the leaders after firing a 1-under-par 70. Tied for fourth place after an even-par 71 are Kolton Crawford of Mansfield, Texas, Benjamin Carrier of McKinney, Texas, Alec Heinen of Edmond, Okla., and Jamison Youree of Forth Worth, Texas.

Navarro, the No. 16 ranked player in the Polo Junior Golf Rankings, felt confident playing in her home city on a course that she has played several times.

“It felt great because I have been working hard since my win last year at this tournament,” Navarro said. “Winning here last year was my first Open tournament victory so it gave me a lot of confidence coming into this week.”

She said she played well today, especially putting, but needs to hit more greens to improve her score on Wednesday.

“I played very consistently today, but my putting really saved me,” she said. “I made some good putts today that kept my round going.”

In a tie for second place, three shots behind Navarro is Kayli Quinton of Cypress, Texas, Anna Sophia Bohmer of Cali, Colombia, and Katie Paxton of Spring, Texas at 3-over-par 74.

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 will run from 7:30 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. off No. 1 at the The Club at Sonterra — South Course on Wednesday, July 14. For more information about the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout presented by Pepsi, please contact tournament headquarters at (678) 571-7994.