Torres takes the lead at the Junior All-Star at Hilton Head
Skinner leads Girls Division at Berkeley Hall Club

BLUFFTON, S.C. — Pablo Andres Torres of Bogota, Colombia, shot a 5-under-par 67 to hold a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Junior All-Star at Hilton Head in Bluffton, S.C. Isabella Skinner of Cumming, Ga., carded 1-under-par 71 to claim her spot atop the leaderboard.

The Junior All-Star at Hilton Head is one of 10 events in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. Specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series presents opportunities for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into AJGA Open tournaments. The Series concludes with the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

Torres's first round at Berkeley Hall Club included six birdies on Nos. 5, 7, 10, 11, 12 and 14 to lead by three strokes. The Junior All-Star at Hilton Head is Torres's second AJGA event.

“On No. 5 I was playing well,” Torres said. “I hit mostly the fairways and I felt comfortable. I tried to concentrate more and take more time on my shots and I did that today.”

Tied for second, Luis Enriquez of Mexico City, Mexico, and David Mackey of Bogart, Ga., carded 2-under-par 70. In a tie for fourth place are Austin Connelly of Las Colinas, Texas, Remec Carlson of Bradenton, Fla., Jack Comstock of Jacksonville, Fla., Matthew Plunkett of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and Bryson Nimmer of Bluffton, S.C., at 1-under-par 71.

In the Girls Division, Skinner completed the front nine 1-under-par early in the day. Her first round at Berkeley Hall Club featured three birdies as the leader going into the second round. Skinner tied for third at the Evitt Foundation RTC Junior All-Star in Ringgold, Ga., earlier this month.

“I came into this with a positive attitude feeling like I could do really well and I did do well,” Skinner said. “I just need to focus on what I need to do and just play my game tomorrow.”

Laura Sojo of Barranquilla, Colombia, and Sara Diaz of Cali, Colombia, are tied for second place just one stroke behind at even-par 72. In third place after 18 holes is Kelly Whaley of Farmington, Conn., who carded 1-over-par 73.

GARY GILCHRIST GOLF ACADEMY, a full-time signature golf instruction program located in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., began as an Official Partner of the AJGA in 2009. The partnership features an endowment of an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant and naming rights to the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series for juniors ages 12-15.

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 more than 40 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, 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 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

For more information on the Junior All-Star at Hilton Head, please contact AJGA Tournament Headquarters at (843) 815-9144.

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