Six Birdies and an Eagle Bump Buchanan into the Lead at the Mexican Golf Federation Junior Open
Ruiz stays consistent to lead the Girls Division at El Tigre Golf & Country Club at the Riviera Nayarit

NUEVO VALLARTA, Nayarit, México — Through two rounds of the Mexican Golf Federation Junior Open, Andrew Buchanan of Los Altos Hills, Calif., is alone at the top of a crowded leaderboard after a 2-under-par 70 at El Tigre Golf & Country Club at the Riviera Nayarit. Ana Ruiz of Chihuahua, México still remains five shots clear of the Girls Division after a 4-over-par 76 in the second round.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Mexican Golf Federation Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play event held at El Tigre Golf & Country Club at the Riviera Nayarit in Nuevo Vallarta, Narayit, México. The 67-player field boasts junior golfers from six states, México and Canada. The Boys Division is playing the course at 6,960 yards while the Girls Division is playing at 5,987 yards.

Buchanan started off his round with a triple bogey on No. 1, but came back with birdies on Nos. 3, 4 and 5 to finish even-par on the front nine. He rounded out his day with an eagle and two birdies on the final five holes to shoot 2-under-par 70.

“I had five birdies yesterday, so I knew there were going to be many more chances for me throughout the round today to come back from my rough start,” Buchanan said. “I hit good iron shots and made the putts to score well.”

Sam Chun of Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., is in second place after a second-round 1-under-par 71. A group of six players are tied for third place. Brothers Roberto and Patrick Sanchez of Mazatlan, México, Christopher Macasaet of Rancho Murieta, Calif., Kraig McLeod of Pebble Beach, Calif., Domenico Geminiani of Bradenton, Fla., and Gustavo Romero of México City all have a two-day total of 1-over-par 145.

After going 3-over-par through her first four holes of the day, Ruiz made the turn hoping to card an even-par 36 on her back nine. She recorded nine straight pars to finish her day at 4-over. She hopes that Monday's final round will follow the steady pace of the first two days.

“I am going to play the best I can,” Ruiz said. “I am going to stay confident and concentrate more on the shots that are difficult. I could have played better today, but I need to focus more on those difficult types of shots.”

Tied for second place, five shots behind Ruiz, are Regina Plasencia of Zapopan, México, and Robynn Ree of Redondo Beach, Calif., with a two-day total of 8-over-par 152.

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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Final-round tee times will run from 8 — 9:50 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10 tees Monday, June 14. For more information about the Mexican Golf Federation Junior Open, please contact Tournament Director Rob Ockenfuss at (678) 425-4976.

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