KIM CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH 8-UNDER-PAR 136 TWO-DAY TOTAL AT HANMI BANK JUNIOR OPEN
Lee Shoots Personal Best to Lead Girls Division by One Stroke at Robinson Ranch Golf Club - Valley Course

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — John Young Kim of Los Alamitos, Calif., continues to lead the Boys Division at the Hanmi Bank Junior Open after recording a second-round total of 3-under-par 69 to reach a two-day total of 8-under-par 136 Wednesday. Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif., shot a personal best of 4-under-par 68 to take the Girls Division lead with a two-day total of 4-under-par 140 at the Robinson Ranch Golf Club's Valley Course.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Hanmi Bank Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke-play event being held at Robinson Ranch Golf Club's Valley Course. The tournament field consists of 75 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from seven states and New Zealand. Eighty-one hailed from the home state of California. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 layout at 6,831 yards, while the Girls Division is playing it at 6,040 yards.

Kim, who came into the second round leading by one, extended his lead to four strokes after carding an eagle and six birdies on the day. The 16-year-old carded two sets of three consecutive birdies on Nos. 1-3 and 10-12. His eagle came on the par-4 eighth hole.

“I had a good drive but I thought it was a little left,” Kim said. “Then I got up there and it was 10 feet from the hole and I was able to make the putt for eagle.”

As for the final round, Kim plans on playing with the same mentality he came into the second round with.

“Today I played it safe and wasn't aggressive and I'll do the same tomorrow,” Kim said. “It means a lot to go into the final round as the leader. I've always wanted to win an AJGA event and I've never been this close before.”

Tied in second in the Boys Division, both with a two-day total of 4-under-par 140 are Todd Baek of Auckland, New Zealand, and Mario Clemens, Beverly Hills, Calif. Justin Edwards of Westlake Village, Calif., is in fourth with a 2-under-par 142. Sitting in fifth is Matthew Siporin of Tarzana, Calif., with a 1-under-par 143.

In the Girls Division, Lee came into the second round tied for third. The 13-year-old finished the front-nine on a bogey but forgot about it on the back nine and recorded a 4-under-par 32, including an eagle on the par-5 18th.

“I knew it was a good shot and when it landed I heard clapping and then some screaming and I knew I made it in,” Lee said. “Tomorrow I have to try not to make mistakes and I can't think about the others. When you think about the mistakes you made then that's what kills you.”

Esther Lee of Los Alamitos, sits in second with a two-day total of 3-under-par 141. Rounding out the leaderboard in the Girls Division, tied for third are Kristina Nhim of Buena Park, Calif., and Marika Liu of Bradenton, Fla., both with a 2-under-par 142.

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.

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 Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

Tee times for the final-round of the Hanmi Bank Junior Open will run from 7 a.m. — 12:10 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at the Robinson Ranch Golf Club — Valley Course. For more information, please call Tournament Director Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana at (678) 617-2424.