GRIBBLE SHOOTS OPENING-ROUND 68 TO LEAD BY FOUR AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS STARS OF TEXAS JUNIOR
Fish, Carson fire matching 74s to lead Girls Division by one stroke

AUSTIN, Texas — Cody Gribble of Dallas shot 3-under-par 33 on the back nine en route to a first-round score of 68 to take a four-shot lead at the Fidelity Investments Stars of Texas Junior on Wednesday. In the Girls Division, Shannon Fish of Spring, Texas, and Kalynd Carson of The Woodlands, Texas, shot 3-over-par 74 to take the lead by one shot.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Fidelity Investments Stars of Texas Junior is being held at The University of Texas Golf Club. The par-71 course is set up at 6,907 yards for the Boys Division and 5,923 yards for the Girls Division. The tournament field consists of 78 boys and 25 girls, ages 12-18, representing 11 states and Mexico, including 83 Texas residents.

Gribble opened the round with birdies on two of the first three holes and shot an even-par 35 on the front nine. Gribble continued his solid play on the back nine recording consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. Gribble added a final birdie on the finishing hole to shoot a 3-under-par 33 on the back nine, for an 18-hole total of 68. Gribble said that the shorter clubs in his golf bag helped him today.

“I did not hit the ball as well today as I did yesterday in the Junior-Am,” Gribble said. “Today, my 56-degree wedge was good and saved me several times.”

Five boys are tied for second at the end of the first round. Juan Pablo Hernandez of Mexico City, Bobby Briskie of Dallas, Conrad Shindler of Coppell, Texas, Broc Raymond of The Woodlands, and Coy Breen of San Antonio each fired a 1-over-par 72 and are four shots off the lead.

Fish carded five pars on the front nine, and shot a 5-over-par 40. On the back side, Fish played better, recording a birdie on hole No. 11. Fish recorded an eagle on the par-4 18th hole, after holing a 93-yard second shot with her pitching wedge. Fish, who will play golf for the University of Texas next year, said that it felt good to play well at The University of Texas Golf Club.

“I really enjoy playing the golf course, and I'm excited to have this as my home course for the next four years,” Fish said. “(Texas) Coach (Susan) Watkins was out there watching me, so it's exciting to play well and have her out here watching me.”

Carson birdied her opening hole, the 348-yard, par-4 first hole and added five more pars on the front to finish with an opening-nine total of 37. On the back nine, Carson continued her steady play, recording a birdie on the 18th hole to shoot 1-over-par 37. Carson said that she had a very simple game plan going into the tournament.

“I just tried to hit fairways and greens out there today,” Carson said. “I had a friend tell me to commit to my shots and that pars were a good score, so I just went out there and tried to have fun.”

Sarah Thead of Poway, Calif., stands alone in third place at the end of the first round. Thead carded a 4-over-par 75 and is one shot off the lead.

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 largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 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 enters its third decade of support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

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 Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Candie Kung, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer.

Second-round tee times will run from 7:30 a.m. — 12:36 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at The University of Texas Golf Club on Thursday. For more information on the Fidelity Investments Stars of Texas Junior, please call AJGA tournament headquarters at (512) 266-6464.

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