FIELDS KEEPS MOMENTUM ALIVE WITH SECOND-ROUND LEAD
Harter pulls ahead in Girls Division
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Jack Fields of Southern Pines, N.C., stayed atop the Boys Division in the second round by carding a 5-under-par 66 to give him an overall score of 11-under-par 131. Courtney Harter of Clearwater, Fla., finished Wednesday’s second-round with a score of even-par 71 to give herself the outright lead in the Girls Division by four strokes.
The Golf Pride Junior Classic, hosted by the American Junior Golf Association, is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, home of the 2001 and 2007 U.S. Women’s Open. The field includes 99 players, ages 12-18, from 20 states, Australia and Peru. Corrine Carr, 2005 champion, returns to defend her title in the Girls Division.
Increasing his lead to three-strokes, Fields turned in a score of 33-33—66 in the second round. Going into the second-round play, Fields said he was looking to increase his lead for more breathing room.
“I usually play it safe when I have the lead just to hold off the competition,” Fields said. “I had a small lead so I wanted to make it bigger, so I played a little bit more dangerously. I wanted to keep making birdies.”
With 25 putts, Fields carded six birdies and 11 pars to keep his lead in the Boys Division. Going into the final round, he thinks he can outlast the competition to earn the victory.
“I think I can take the scores lower,” Fields said. “I just need to keep hitting the ball the way I have been and the putts need to keep dropping.”
Josh Brock of Wilmington, N.C, finished in second-place after carding a score of 8-under-par 134. In third place with an overall score of 135 is Doug Kenny of Roswell, Ga. Rounding out the top five in the Boys Division is Russell Henley of Macon, Ga., at 136, and David Palm of Jacksonville, Fla., with a score of 137.
Being tied with top honors after round-one play, Harter came out in the second round firing one eagle and 13 pars to finish with a two-day score of 140. Harter explained that playing smart golf with patience; she was able to gain confidence and the lead.
“I was playing well on the front, but struggling on the back nine,” Harter said. “I holed out from 75 yards for an eagle on No.15. Once that happen, I played pretty solid the rest of the round.”
Giving herself a four-stroke lead in the Girls Division, Harter said that her short game was what boosted her to the top.
“My wedge and putter were really working out there for me,” Harter said. “I made a lot of clutch putts today and I got up and down a lot.”
Finishing with a two-day score of 144 and second-place honors was Kristin Price of Dandridge, Tenn. Rounding out the top three in the Girls Division was Molly Plomaritis of Eden, N.C., with an overall score of 3-over-par 145
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, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual 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 USA, which is in its third decade of support, became the inaugural 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 compiles more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Paula Creamer.
Final round tee times begin at 7 a.m. Thursday, off the No. 1 tee at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. For more information on the Golf Pride Junior Classic please contact tournament headquarters at (910)692-7111 ext. 2401.
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