TRUE TEMPER JUNIOR OPEN
Diablo Grande – The Ranch Course
Patterson, California
July 5-8, 2004
KIM CHARGES AHEAD WITH A ONE-STROKE LEAD
Cho takes the lead in the Girls Division
PATTERSON, Calif.— Bio Kim faced the heat and jumped atop the leaderboard with a two-day total of 3-under-par 141 at the second round of the True Temper Junior Open. Sooji Cho shot ahead and emerged as the leader in the Girls Division with a two-day total of 2-under-par 142.
The True Temper Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at the Ranch Course at Diablo Grande. The tournament features 144 players, ages 12-18, from eight states and three foreign countries. One-hundred and twenty-two California natives are entered in the field.
Kim, 13, of Tustin, Calif., emerged as the leader after the second round with a 4-under-par 68. He said many factors helped him keep his score low.
“I played well yesterday,” he said. “But I made better shots, more putts, and I didn’t hit it out of bounds today. I also have been playing with guys that make me feel comfortable, and they are very kind to me. All these things help me play better.”
Kim’s strategy for staying on top in the third round is to make as many birdies as he can. His goal is to shoot under par.
“I hope to score like today, but maybe a little better,” he said.
Following Kim are Andrey Mindirgasov of Pacific Grove, Calif., and Nicolas Podesta of Yuba City, Calif., with two-day totals of 142, Mathew Tom of Norwalk, Calif., at 144, and Peter Nascimento of Port Kembla, Australia, Matthew Shaw of Clovis, Calif., Matt Muscara of Livermore, Calif., Samuel Kim of Cerritos, Calif., Jason Kang of Torrance, Calif., and Brian Kim of Yorba Linda, Calif., with two-day totals of 145.
Cho, 16, of Glendale, Calif., found herself at the top of the leaderboard for the first time in her career after she shot a 4-under-par 68 during the second round.
“It’s my first time to be leading,” Cho said. “I’m playing well, and I’m so happy and excited.”
Cho said she found her focus in the second round and was able to keep her score low with the six birdies she carded.
“My best shot of the day was on No. 16 when I tried to get it on the green in two,” she said. “I missed it, but I still made birdie anyway.”
Following Cho are Grace Woo of Burbank, Calif., with a two day total of 144, and Christy Yun of University Place, Wash., and Grace Chung of La Habra, Calif., with two day totals of 148.
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 largest association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch U.S.A., a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became an AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Beth Bauer.
The final round of the True Temper Junior Open will consist of two waves of tee times from the first and 10th tees. The first starts at 7:30 a.m. and concludes at 9:09 a.m. The second wave begins at noon and concludes at 1:39 p.m. For more information on the True Temper Junior Open, call tournament headquarters at (209) 892-4653.
