CALIFORNIAN NATHAN SMITH RECORDS NINE BIRDIES EN ROUTE TO FIRST-ROUND 65 AT COMPAQ JUNIOR CLASSIC AT ENGLISH TURN
Illinois native Alexis Wooster leads Girls Division after opening 71

NEW ORLEANS - Nathan Smith of Soquel, Calif., carded nine birdies en route to a 7-under-par 65 in the first round of the 24th annual Compaq Junior Classic at English Turn. Smith holds a three-shot lead in the Boys Division over Robert Stone of Dallas entering Thursday's second round. Alexis Wooster of Winnetka, Ill., recorded the only under-par score, opening with a 71 to lead the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association for the 13th year on English Turn Golf & Country Club's par-72 layout, the field includes 86 players representing 19 states and Germany. Past participants include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, David Duval, Grace Park, and Michelle McGann.

Wednesday's first round was hampered by a steady drizzle, but it did not prevent Smith from tying 1998 Compaq Junior Classic at English Turn champion Jamie Kellum's Boys Division record of 65.

"I have never putted this well in my life," said Smith, whose best finish in an AJGA event was a tie for 10th at the Ashworth Junior Classic at Quail Ranch. "I got it going early, with birdies on the first three holes, and played well the rest of the day."

After a 33 on the front side, Smith turned in a 32 on the back side for his 65 total. Stone stands in second place after a 34-34--68. Rounding out the top five are Kevin Larsen of Santa Barbara, Calif., at 70, Jeff Osborn of Glendale, Calif., at 71, and Chris Wheeler of Allen, Texas, at 72.

Wooster played a steady game all day in recording a first round of 36-35--71.

"Keeping a level head was key for me today," Wooster said. "I tried not to get ahead of myself, and it worked. I didn't have any three putts and was able to stay out of trouble."

Playing in the same group with Wooster was Sara Jones of Valencia, Calif., who made six birdies on the front nine and finished 31-44--75.

"With Sara playing lights out, I tried not to get caught up trying to match her shot for shot."

Wooster will be back in New Orleans in the fall, having signed to attend Tulane University on a golf scholarship.

Also in contention in the Girls Division are Alexis Rather of Tupelo, Miss., at 72, while Maggie Simons of Raleigh, N.C., and Laura Clemmons of Mayfield, Ky., are tied for third at 74.

The second round of the Compaq Junior Classic at English Turn begins Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

## AJGA ##

NEW ORLEANS -- First-round results from the AJGA COMPAQ JUNIOR CLASSIC AT ENGLISH TURN conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at English Turn Golf & Country Club. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,909 Girls: 5,877

BOYS DIVISION

Nathan Smith (2002) Soquel, Calif.* 33-32--65
Robert Stone (2002) Dallas, Texas* 34-34--68
Kevin Larsen (2003) Santa Barbara, Calif.* 35-35--70
Jeff Osborn (2001) Glendale, Calif.* 35-36--71
Chris Wheeler (2001) Allen, Texas* 34-38--72
Tarik Can (2004) New York, N.Y.* 33-40--73
Jason Woyak (2003) Pace, Fla.* 38-35--73
Mark Ogren (2003) Daphne, Ala.* 34-39--73
Michael Birtel (2004) New Orleans, La.* 37-36--73
Chase Thomas (2002) Dallas, Texas* 39-35--74
Travis Braden (2002) Magnolia, Texas* 38-36--74
Ryan Henry (2003) Broken Arrow, Okla.* 40-34--74
Will Dottley (2003) Greenville, Miss.* 38-36--74
Tully Coyle (2003) Charlotte, N.C.* 35-39--74
Frank Briseno (2001) River Ridge, La.* 37-37--74
Craig Trahan (2001) Marrero, La.* 39-36--75
Randy Lowry (2005) Spring, Texas* 36-39--75
Scott Seibert (2002) Chesterfield, Mo.* 41-34--75
Preston Smith (2003) Monroe, La.* 40-36--76
Jarrod Gardner (2001) Austin, Texas* 35-41--76
Mark Sullivan (2001) Plano, Texas* 36-40--76
Andrew Ahlering (2003) St. Louis, Mo.* 40-36--76
Chris Elliott (2002) Plano, Texas* 40-36--76
Tim Connors (2001) Rye, N.Y.* 39-37--76
Matthew Shoemaker (2002) Petal, Miss.* 38-38--76
Brandon Wilson (2002) Mandeville, La.* 38-39--77
Jason Cook (2004) Windermere, Fla.* 39-38--77
Cody Chance (2002) Lumberton, Texas* 36-41--77
Jeffrey Neimeyer (2002) Georgetown, Texas* 38-39--77
David Harris (2002) Munich Bay, Germany* 35-42--77
Danny Dennis (2002) Collierville, Tenn.* 39-38--77
Marshall Bettoney (2002) Bryant, Ark.* 37-40--77
Jeremy Frye (2003) Palestine, Texas* 36-41--77
Blake Trimble (2002) Houston, Texas* 37-40--77
Beck Troutman (2004) Fernwood, Miss.* 38-39--77
Brent Struthers (2004) Baton Rouge, La.* 40-38--78
Alan Burnett (2002) Charlotte, N.C.* 39-39--78
Chad Bailey (2003) Shreveport, La.* 38-40--78
Sean Hardy (2002) Metairie, La.* 42-36--78
Shea Magee (2002) Petal, Miss.* 43-36--79
Drew Laning (2001) Little Rock, Ark.* 35-44--79
Josh Goldman (2002) New Orleans, La.* 37-42--79
Michael Berg (2002) Belden, Miss.* 39-40--79
David Pollet (2002) Baton Rouge, La.* 40-39--79
Andrew Crowe (2002) Murrieta, Calif.* 41-38--79
Cameron Crow (2004) Houma, La.* 41-38--79
Drew Reynolds (2002) Lee's Summit, Mo.* 41-38--79
Harold Villere (2001) New Orleans, La.* 39-40--79
Nat Bhanthumachinda (2003) Harvey, La.* 39-40--79
Eric Anderson (2003) Plano, Texas* 37-42--79
Ryan Werner (2002) Dallas, Texas* 41-38--79
Blake Mozley (2001) Horton, Ala.* 43-37--80
Brock McDowell (2002) League City, Texas* 41-39--80
Daniel Lee (2002) Huntington Beach, Calif.* 36-44--80
Brian Foret (2001) Harahan, La.* 38-42--80
Jonathan Levenson (2001) Metairie, La.* 39-41--80
Brett Marler (2002) Mobile, Ala.* 40-40--80
Nick Eckerd (2002) Owasso, Okla.* 39-42--81
Brent Evans (2002) Chandler, Okla.* 41-40--81
Joel Myrick (2002) Hattiesburg, Miss.* 40-41--81
Derek Busby (2002) Tallulah, La.* 42-39--81
Kyle McCotter (2003) Shreveport, La.* 38-43--81
Austin Bowen (2004) Hattiesburg, Miss.* 43-38--81
Stewart Young (2003) Ridgeland, Miss.* 42-40--82
Robbie Abt (2002) Cullman, Ala.* 41-41--82
Chris Myers (2002) Gulf Breeze, Fla.* 44-40--84
Michael Nicoletti (2002) Dos Palos, Calif.* 40-45--85
Carter Lawnin (2003) Kingwood, Texas* 43-42--85
Evan O'Donnell (2002) Palestine, Texas* 43-44--87
Colby Odom (2002) St. Stephens, Ala.* 45-42--87
John LeBlanc (2001) Baton Rouge, La.* 53-48--101

GIRLS DIVISION

Alexis Wooster (2001) Winnetka, Ill.* 36-35--71
Alexis Rather (2003) Tupelo, Miss.* 37-35--72
Maggie Simons (2003) Raleigh, N.C.* 38-36--74
Laura Clemmons (2002) Mayfield, Ky.* 39-35--74
Amy Middleton (2003) Citronelle, Ala.* 37-38--75
Beth Irwin (2001) Germantown, Tenn.* 39-36--75
Sara Jones (2002) Valencia, Calif.* 31-44--75
Lauren Brown (2003) Phoenix, Ariz.* 36-40--76
Jennifer Pandolfi (2004) Navarre, Fla.* 38-40--78
Jill Phillips (2002) Auburn, Wash.* 38-40--78
Stacy Brown (2003) The Woodlands, Texas* 36-42--78
Ashley Knoll (2003) The Woodlands, Texas* 39-40--79
Sarah O'Neill (2002) Potomac, Md.* 39-40--79
Katherine Jones (2004) Jackson, Miss.* 42-38--80
Casey Rotella (2001) Keswick, Va.* 46-48--94