AJGA CALLAWAY GOLF JUNIOR ALL-STAR CHAMPIONSHIP
ChampionsGate Golf Club - The International
ChampionsGate, Florida
November 21 - 24

HAN, PARK JUMP TO FIRST-ROUND LEADS

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. - Steve Han of Diamond Bar, Calif., took a four shot lead in the Boys Division by carding an opening round 4-under-par 68 at the AJGA Callaway Golf Junior All-Star Championship. In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., took control of the Girls Division by shooting a 2-over-par 74.

The AJGA Callaway Golf Junior All-Star Championship, a 54-hole event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, includes 57 of the world's top 13-16-year-old junior golfers. To be invited to this event, each junior had to prove their ability by finishing at or near the top of the leaderboard in one of the six AJGA Compaq Junior All-Star events.

In the Boys Division, Han's 4-under-par set his AJGA career-low round. His front nine included birdies on holes three and seven, with his only bogey coming on No. 8, taking him to 1-under-par as he made the turn. Han then turned it up with three straight birdies on Nos. 11, 12, and 13. He bogeyed No. 14, but finished strong with a birdie on No. 18, giving him six birdies to only two bogeys for the day.

"My putting was very good and my driver was very straight," Han said. "Right now I am playing well and I saw myself doing well in this tournament."

Han knows there is still a lot of golf to be played. After his round, he headed straight for the practice putting green and then off to the driving range. It is his first time being atop the leaderboard, and he likes the feeling.

"I can always work on my putting, it's what holds my game together," he continued. "I'm in a good position. I just want to keep it that way."

Rounding out the top five in the Boys Division are Ben Herrera of Waukee, Iowa, Andy Park of San Diego, Calif., Kyle Davis of Kennett Square, Pa., Michael Haverfield of Louisville, Ky., Martin Piller of Duncanville, Texas and Kenny Kim of Cerritos, Calif., all at 72.

In the Girls Division, Park took a slim lead with her 2-over-par 74. Park has fared well in her home state of Florida. By winning the AJGA Compaq Junior All-Star Classic at Kissimmee Bay, she became eligible for this event. She'll take that experience to stay in control of the tournament.

"This is a hard course," Park said. "Things like chipping, putting and driving will be important. I'll just keep practicing."

In the Girls top three, Chritsti Athas of Eldora, Iowa, and Heather Wright, of Houston, Texas, both came in one shot back of Park going in to the second round. Athas won earlier in the year at the AJGA Compaq Junior All-Star Classic at Eagle Ridge. Wright placed fourth at the AJGA Compaq Junior All-Star Classic at Midland and hopes to improve on that finish.

"I learned to play it safe and not to be too aggressive," Wright said. "If I keep hitting it straight and thinking out every shot, I'll be fine. I've definitely made my fair share of mistakes, but I've learned a lot from them."

Second-round play will begin Friday morning with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. off the No. 1 and 10 tees. For more information concerning the AJGA Callaway Golf Junior All-Star Championship or any AJGA event, call tournament headquarters at (407) 397-1450.

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. -- First-round results from the AJGA CALLAWAY GOLF JUNIOR ALL-STAR CHAMPIONSHIP conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at ChampionsGate Golf Resort, The International. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,397 Girls: 5,605

BOYS DIVISION

Steve Han (2005) Diamond Bar, Calif.* 35-33--68
Ben Herrera (2005) Waukee, Iowa* 35-37--72
Andy Park (2003) San Diego, Calif.* 39-33--72
Kyle Davis (2005) Kennett Square, Pa.* 35-37--72
Michael Haverfield (2004) Louisville, Ky.* 38-34--72
Martin Piller (2004) Duncanville, Texas* 35-37--72
Kenny Kim (2004) Cerritos, Calif.* 36-36--72
Michael Birtel (2004) New Orleans, La.* 39-34--73
Will Haydon (2005) Palo Alto, Calif.* 36-37--73
Jake Creel (2004) Dothan, Ala.* 39-34--73
Jason Cook (2004) Windermere, Fla.* 40-33--73
Kenny Palmer (2004) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 37-37--74
Kevin Lozares (2004) Mountain View, Calif.* 40-34--74
James Lee (2005) La Mirada, Calif.* 36-39--75
Will Osborne (2004) Wichita Falls, Texas* 38-37--75
Andrew Davidson (2004) Windermere, Fla.* 37-38--75
Evan Willingham (2005) Raleigh, N.C.* 38-37--75
Brian Steeves (2004) Wappingers Falls, N.Y.* 38-37--75
Jon Curran (2005) Hopkinton, Mass.* 36-39--75
Jeffrey Edelman (2006) Southlake, Texas* 39-36--75
Casey Caldwell (2004) Albuquerque, N.M.* 39-36--75
Steven Bain (2003) Lake Mary, Fla.* 39-37--76
Nicholas Smith (2005) Ocala, Fla.* 38-38--76
Stephen Walton (2004) Westchester, Pa.* 41-35--76
James Minahan (2004) Spring, Texas* 39-38--77
Aaron Louv (2003) Durham, N.C.* 43-34--77
John Ebert (2004) Charlotte, N.C.* 41-37--78
Clarke Kincaid (2004) Trophy Club, Texas* 40-38--78
Jonathan Borders (2004) Wichita Falls, Texas* 41-37--78
Cole Peevler (2005) Keokuk, Iowa* 39-39--78
Michael Schachner (2004) Libertyville, Ill.* 40-38--78
Austin Wang (2004) Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.* 38-40--78
Shawn Tonkin (2006) Mercer Island, Wash.* 38-41--79
Tim McKenney (2006) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 38-41--79
Kyung Min (2004) Fullerton, Calif.* 41-39--80
Jared Taylor (2004) Bluefield, Va.* 42-38--80
Greg Carlin (2004) Kensington, Md.* 40-40--80
Ian Springer (2004) River Forest, Ill.* 41-40--81
Chris Smith (2004) Alpharetta, Ga.* 40-42--82
Robbie Leonard (2004) Moon Township, Pa.* 40-43--83
Phelps Brooks (2004) Cheraw, S.C.* 41-42--83
Michael Baca (2004) Fresno, Calif.* 46-38--84
Brent Pickrell (2005) Austin, Texas* 47-42--89

GIRLS DIVISION

In-Bee Park (2007) Eustis, Fla.* 38-36--74
Heather Wright (2004) Houston, Texas* 36-39--75
Christi Athas (2003) Eldora, Iowa* 37-38--75
Whitney Sylvan (2004) Columbia, S.C.* 38-38--76
Jennifer Hong (2005) Windermere, Fla.* 40-38--78
Megan McLeod (2004) Fallbrook, Calif.* 38-42--80
Brittany Johnston (2004) Akron, Ohio* 38-42--80
Erica Gonzalez (2005) Davie, Fla.* 40-41--81
Jacqueline Dickey (2005) Pembroke Pines, Fla.* 38-44--82
Jessica Reno (2003) Wilmington, Del.* 39-43--82
Lauren Espinosa (2005) Dallas, Texas* 42-40--82
Ali Beuckman (2004) Jupiter, Fla.* 42-42--84
Katie Trachok (2004) Upper St. Clair, Pa.* 45-41--86
Brittany Lambert (2004) Keokuk, Iowa* 45-44--89