Sam Carraher of Crown Point, Indiana, Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, and Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, share the lead heading into the final day of The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex. All three players sit atop the leaderboard at 4-under-par and hold a one-shot lead over the field.
Carraher began the day at 2-under-par and put together an impressive second round. The Purdue University commit carded five birdies against three bogeys to post his second consecutive 2-under-par 70. Carraher, who will represent the U.S. Team at the Junior Presidents Cup later this month, is in search of his first AJGA Invitational victory and has put himself in strong position heading into the final round.
“It was just a grind, and I managed to hit some good shots on the second nine. My putting was the strongest part, and when you hit good irons and drives out here, you can make your life a lot easier. My mentality won’t change tomorrow; I know what I have to do to give myself a chance, so I’m just going to have fun.”
Puebla, a Florida native, posted a steady even-par round on Saturday. The future Florida Gator recorded three birdies and three bogeys to maintain his position atop the leaderboard heading into the final round in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Puebla will look to claim his first AJGA Invitational title before representing the U.S. Team at the Junior Presidents Cup later this month.
“Game plan was the same as yesterday. I didn’t make too many mistakes. I feel like I’ve put myself in contention many times, and I want to use that experience going into tomorrow. Having played this tournament before definitely gives me an advantage.”
Rounding out the leaders is Lew, who carded a low 3-under-par 69 to move into contention for The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex title. The University of North Carolina commit recorded five birdies against just two bogeys and put together a strong second round to join the leaders. Like Carraher and Puebla, Lew will be looking to claim his first AJGA Invitational victory.
“I just hit the ball really well and was really steady, hitting fairways and greens. Being the leader doesn’t change my mentality; I’m just going to keep doing my thing and see what happens tomorrow. I’m excited for tomorrow. I have a great group, so it will be fun.”
First round leader Chase Bauer of Gotha, Florida, and University of Georgia commit Brady Barnum of Dublin, Ohio, round out the top-five. Bauer put together a fantastic opening round, carding seven birdies against just two bogeys to take a one-shot lead into the second round. With plenty of talented players still chasing him, the Florida State University commit finished his second round 2-over-par but remains just one shot off the lead heading into the final round.
Barnum quickly climbed the leaderboard, sinking five birdies en route to a 2-under-par 70. The Ohio native is in prime position to claim his first AJGA Invitational victory, sitting just one shot off the lead heading into the final day at TPC Sawgrass – THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.
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About The Tournament
A product of the longstanding partnership between the PGA TOUR and the American Junior Golf Association, The Junior PLAYERS provides an elite field with the opportunity to compete on one of golf’s most recognizable stages. Rolex, one of the AJGA’s longest-tenured partners, has served as presenting sponsor since 2022 and continues to play an integral role in the championship.
The field features 42 past AJGA champions, highlighting the event’s field strength. A total of 16 players are ranked inside the top 25 of the Rolex AJGA Rankings, along with 19 Rolex Junior All-Americans and 40 college commitments. The depth of the field extends across the globe, with players representing 19 states and 16 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Guatemala, India, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Sweden, Taiwan and the United States.
About Rolex
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 600 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
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For more questions about The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex, please contact Justin Farrell (jfarrell@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department.