BYUN LEADS BOYS DIVISION AT THE HERITAGE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 6-UNDER-PAR 66
Sylvan and Burger deadlocked atop Girls Division at 1-under-par 71

BLUFFTON, S.C. — Joseph Byun of Sanford, Fla., fired a first-round 6-under-par 66 to lead the Boys Division at the Heritage Junior Championship by two strokes. Katie Sylvan of San Diego, Calif., and Emilie Burger of Hoschton, Ga., are tied for first in the Girls Division at 1-under-par 71.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Heritage Junior Championship is being held at Berkeley Hall — South Course. The tournament field consists of 59 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 18 states, Northern Ireland, Canada and Columbia. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,059 yards, while the Girls Division plays at 6,187 yards.

Byun's round featured seven birdies against only one bogey and an opening nine of 4-under-par 32. Byun's low score was propelled by excellent ball-striking, as he hit 10 fairways and 16 greens in regulation.

“I was able to hit approach shots to within 10-15 feet today,” Byun said. “I want to putt better tomorrow though. I missed a few close putts but still shot 66.”

Smylie Kaufman of Birmingham, Ala., and Zachery Sobel of Clearwater Beach, Fla., are tied for second place at 4-under-par 68. Kamito Hirai of Summerville, S.C. is in fourth place at 2-under-par 70. Patrick Burke of Houston and Michael Montgomery of Hilton Head Island, S.C., round out the top five at 1-under-par 71.

Sylvan is spending her second straight week on the East Coast after playing in the Rolex Girls Junior Championship in Charlotte, N.C., last week.

“It's been real hot these last two weeks,” Sylvan said. “But the courses have been great. They're so well manicured.”

Burger's round featured five birdies and four bogeys. She said that the Berkeley Hall — South Course really fit her eye.

“It's got a real good layout,” Sylvan said. “It's pretty open and very straightforward. I'm happy with my game right now; I'm just looking to get a few more up-and-downs.”

Tied for third place at even-par 72 are Carlie Yadloczky of Casselberry, Fla., and Luz Alejandra Cangrejo of Bogota, Columbia.

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 49 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 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.

Second-round tee times for the Heritage Junior Championship will start at 7:30 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Berkeley Hall — South Course. For more information on the Heritage Junior Championship, please call AJGA Tournament Headquarters (843) 815-3653.