FIVE PLAYERS TOP FIELD FOR BOYS DIVISION LEAD
Trio sits atop Girls Division leaderboard

HOT SPRINGS, Va.-- Thomas Hagler IV, Bennett Smith, Blaine Peffley, Dan Walters and Bryan Beymer all shot 1-under-par 71s to sit atop the logjam in the Boys Division of the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship at the Homestead Resort's Lower Cascades Course. Erica Battle, Whitney Myers and Blair Lamb all share the Girls Division lead at 4-over-par 76.

The ClubCorp Junior Players Championship, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 120 players from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. The 54-hole event includes 20 players from Virginia.

In the Boys Division, six players are tied for sixth at even-par 72, and 26 players are within four shots of the lead.

Hagler IV recorded nines of 33-38 to take the early lead in the clubhouse. The Ringgold, Ga., native missed one fairway the entire day while competing in his first AJGA tournament.

He showed no effects of nerves, carding birdies on Nos. 1, 3, 7 and 8. The 17-year-old enjoyed the opportunity to compete at the tradition-rich Homestead Resort.

"I had a lot of fun today," Hagler IV added. "I have really been looking forward to this for a long time, and I hope I can play like this tomorrow."

Bennett Smith was the second player to card a 1-under-par 71. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native fired nines of 35-36, carding birdies on Nos. 1,2 and 15.

The third member of the leaders, Blaine Peffley, also carded nines of 35-36 for his round of 1-under-par.

"I played very well today," Peffley said. "I really hit my driver well and that set me up for a good round."

Peffley started hot with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 and lipped out a birdie putt on No. 2. He also rolled in a bending 30-foot birdie putt on No. 17. Peffley, a native of Lebanon, Pa., took second at the 2001 AJGA Sand Barrens Junior Championship and looks to follow that performance with a high finish this week.

The fourth player to come in at 71 was Dan Walters. The resident of Landisville, Pa., recorded four birdies, three bogeys and 11 pars. Walters finished sixth at the same Sand Barrens Tournament as his high school rival, Peffley.

"I need to be more consistent tomorrow," Walters added. "My ball-striking could've been better, but I'm pleased with my round. I hope Blaine (Peffley) and I can keep it going, because it would be fun to play with him in the final round."

The final player to come in at 1-under-par 71 was Bryan Beymer of Huntington, W. Va. The 17-year-old was up-and-down all day, carding birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 15 and 17, but had double-bogies on Nos. 5 and 16.

"I was up-and-down all day. I just couldn't get any consistency," Beymer said. "It was one of my better putting rounds, but I just couldn't maintain it."

In the Girls Division, Whitney Myers of East Berlin, Pa., was the first of the three players in with a 76. The 15-year-old recorded nines of 40-36. Myers had only one three-putt during her round which resulted in a double bogey on No. 2. Nonetheless, Myers was pleased with her round.

"I did everything pretty well," Myers said. "My putting could be better. I missed a lot of 10-footers."

Erica Battle of Columbia, S.C., fired nines of 38-38. The 17-year-old was even-par through 15 holes, but played the last three holes in the rain 4-over-par.

"I hit the ball all right, until it started raining," Battle said. "I hit some bad shots, but I was able to recover most of the time."

Blair Lamb of Flat Rock, N.C., was the last player to join the fray at 4-over-par 76. She also carded nines of 38-38.

"I hit my driver and irons pretty well, but my putting was off," Lamb said. "I was pretty consistent all the way through."

For more information on the AJGA ClubCorp Junior Players Championship, contact tournament headquarters at (540) 839-7565.

#AJGA#

HOT SPRINGS, Va.. -- First-round results from the AJGA CLUBCORP JUNIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Homestead Resort, Lower Cascades Course. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,622 Girls: 5,930

BOYS DIVISION

Thomas Hagler IV (2002) Ringgold, Ga.* 33-38--71
Bennett Smith (2002) Pittsburgh, Pa.* 35-36--71
Blaine Peffley (2002) Lebanon, Pa.* 35-36--71
Dan Walters (2002) Landisville, Pa.* 35-36--71
Bryan Beymer (2002) Huntington, W.Va.* 34-37--71
Chris Irwin (2002) Laconia, N.H.* 33-39--72
Brett Lange (2004) Atlanta, Ga.* 36-36--72
Mark Blakefield (2001) Maysville, Ky.* 38-34--72
Garrett Pike (2003) Sterling, Va.* 32-40--72
Blake Sattler (2002) New Philadelphia, Ohio* 35-37--72
Sutton Barbrey (2001) Raleigh, N.C.* 37-35--72
Jared Jones (2003) Kenova, W.Va.* 35-38--73
Victor Galvani (2001) Framingham, Mass.* 36-37--73
David Dankmyer (2002) Gibsonia, Pa.* 37-36--73
Chris McCartin (2004) Arlington, Va.* 35-38--73
Dennis Gosier (2002) Ganesevoort, N.Y.* 36-38--74
Colin Biles (2003) Upper Arlington, Ohio* 38-36--74
Barry Londeree (2001) Staunton, Va.* 38-36--74
Matt Smith (2002) Meadowview, Va.* 37-37--74
Daniel Tomlin (2002) Mechanicsville, Va.* 36-38--74
Jonathan Johasky (2002) Lower Burrell, Pa.* 35-39--74
Brant Stovall (2002) Lawsonville, N.C.* 36-38--74
Colton Turnquist (2002) Austin, Texas* 36-38--74
Steve Burke (2003) Keswick, Va.* 37-37--74
Patrick Hummel (2002) Virginia Beach, Va.* 38-37--75
Ryan Knoll (2002) The Woodlands, Texas* 36-39--75
Marc Matalavage (2002) Mechanicsburg, Pa.* 40-35--75
Chris Halkowitz (2002) Johnson City, Tenn.* 38-37--75
Brian Kim (2002) Louisville, Ky.* 39-36--75
Barr Blanton (2002) Louisville, Ky.* 39-36--75
Joe Ronevich (2003) Wintersville, Ohio* 39-36--75
Justin Fender (2002) New Richmond, Ohio* 39-37--76
John-Tyler Griffin (2006) Wilson, N.C.* 37-39--76
Brice Bailey (2002) Memphis, Tenn.* 40-36--76
Tripp Reynolds (2002) Shelby, N.C.* 38-38--76
Matt McLaughlin (2003) Raleigh, N.C.* 40-36--76
Tyler Riffe (2002) Byron, Ill.* 39-37--76
David Box (2003) Charlotte, N.C.* 37-39--76
Chris Baloga (2001) Baltimore, Md.* 39-37--76
Hunter Bendall (2003) Richmond, Va.* 39-38--77
Zack Amole (2002) Denver, Pa.* 41-36--77
Shane Behmer (2002) Lancaster, Pa.* 40-37--77
J.D. Bass (2003) Fairview, N.C.* 35-42--77
John Saari (2003) Lilburn, Ga.* 38-39--77
Brian Fairbank (2003) Mclean, Va.* 37-40--77
Sean Seese (2002) Huntingdon Valley, Pa.* 40-37--77
Matt Burke (2002) Mansfield, Texas* 38-39--77
Brian Carroll (2002) Crystal Lake, Ill.* 40-37--77
Ryan Holler (2004) Morehead City, N.C.* 39-39--78
Michael Stiller (2002) Cambridge, Mass.* 40-38--78
Drew Bowen (2002) Monroe, Ga.* 35-43--78
Ryan Jeun (2001) Laurel, Md.* 38-40--78
Frank Hedderich (2002) Waynesboro, Va.* 38-40--78
Jack Parrott (2003) Roanoke, Va.* 40-38--78
Chris Breed (2003) Waynesboro, Pa.* 40-38--78
Chad Fultz (2004) Staunton, Va.* 41-37--78
Drew Whitten (2001) Hurricane, W.Va.* 41-37--78
Gerard Duffy, Jr. (2002) Charlotte, N.C.* 39-40--79
Ian Schneider (2002) Charlotte, N.C.* 39-40--79
Steve Ross (2002) Huntington, W.Va.* 43-36--79
David St. Clair (2002) Waban, Mass.* 43-36--79
Danny Winokur (2002) Springlake, N.J.* 38-41--79
Alex Knoll (2003) Bethlehem, Pa.* 42-38--80
Todd Czepiel (2002) Boonville, N.Y.* 39-41--80
Andrew Brant (2002) Fairfax Station, Va.* 40-40--80
Landon Lee (2002) Montgomery, Texas* 41-39--80
Tyler Witman (2003) Rehoboth, Del.* 40-40--80
Mark Wilson (2002) Burlington, N.C.* 38-42--80
Wesley Williams (2003) Franklin, Tenn.* 41-39--80
Raymond Beckman (2002) Winston-Salem, N.C.* 38-42--80
Brett Levy (2002) Brookline, Mass.* 40-41--81
Jason Robertson (2001) Virginia Beach, Va.* 39-42--81
Blake Bartholomew (2003) Ft. Myers, Fla.* 41-40--81
Skip Clasper (2003) North Potomac, Md.* 41-41--82
Bo McGinnis (2001) Ironton, Ohio* 42-40--82
Brian Scott (2003) Crofton, Md.* 42-40--82
Austin Hill (2003) Dallas, Texas* 43-40--83
Matt Brantingham (2003) Richmond, Va.* 40-43--83
Andy Brown (2002) Ironton, Ohio* 40-43--83
Chace Crawford (2003) Plano, Texas* 41-42--83
John Coleman (2002) Midlothian, Va.* 44-39--83
Dan Hogan (2002) Centreville, Va.* 43-40--83
Bradley Clark (2002) Germantown, Tenn.* 41-43--84
Alan May (2002) Salem, Va.* 42-43--85
Austin Burcham (2002) Proctorville, Ohio* 44-41--85
Jordan Brown (2002) St. Charles, Mo.* 44-41--85
B.K. Kennedy (2002) Charlotte, N.C.* 40-46--86
Russell Peltonen (2002) Thunder Bay, Ontario* 39-47--86
Clay Creekmore (2003) Roanoke, Va.* 41-45--86
Jon Orchin (2002) Washington, D.C.* 43-43--86
Jason Shin (2001) Bethesda, Md.* 48-39--87
Mike Difabbio (2003) Steubenville, Ohio* 45-42--87
Will Dickey (2003) Charlottesville, Va.* 46-42--88
Ryan Tidwell (2002) Cypress, Texas* 46-42--88
David Litt (2002) Bethesda, Md.* 48-44--92
Nicholas Tipton (2002) Beaverdam, Va.*WD (injury)

GIRLS DIVISION

Whitney Myers (2004) East Berlin, Pa.* 40-36--76
Erica Battle (2002) Columbia, S.C.* 38-38--76
Blair Lamb (2005) Flat Rock, N.C.* 38-38--76
Katie Miller (2003) Jeannette, Pa.* 40-38--78
Sarah O'Neil (2002) Potomac, Md.* 43-38--81
Laura Evans (2002) Dalton, Ga.* 40-41--81
Carling Cho (2002) San Juan Capistrano, Calif.* 41-40--81
Robin McCarley (2001) Johnson City, Tenn.* 38-43--81
Shannon Boyle (2003) Cary, N.C.* 38-44--82
Romi Irons (2001) Dublin, Ohio* 36-46--82
Brittany Adams (2002) Huntington, W.Va.* 41-42--83
Holly Cantwell (2003) Morristown, Tenn.* 43-40--83
Jenna Winokur (2004) Springlake, N.J.* 43-42--85
Lindsay Robinson (2003) Huntington, W.Va.* 41-44--85
Joy Juskowich (2002) Morgantown, W.Va.* 40-45--85
Katie Trachok (2004) Upper St. Claire, Pa.* 39-46--85
Megan Miller (2002) Murrells Inlet, S.C.* 42-43--85
Jennifer Ackerson (2002) Allen, Texas* 41-45--86
Kaylan Barbrey (2004) Raleigh, N.C.* 49-37--86
Polly Reddick (2002) Kingsport, Tenn.* 40-46--86
Natascha Lorenz (2001) North Miami Beach, Fla.* 45-41--86
Meredith Roberts (2001) Purcellville, Va.* 47-42--89
Kelly MacWhinnie (2003) Pittsburgh, Pa.* 46-51--97
Shawna McIntyre (2002) Houston, Texas* 45-53--98