PARK, SHIN LOOK TO BREAK TWO-DAY TIE IN FINAL ROUND OF STOCKTON SPORTS COMMISSION JUNIOR CLASSIC
Sanchez, Arboleda both 6-under-par at The Reserve at Spanos Park

STOCKTON, Calif. — Victoria Sungmin Park of Irvine, Calif., and Jenny Shin of Torrance, Calif., ranked tenth and eleventh respectively in the Polo Golf Rankings, remain tied going into the final round of the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic. Both girls carded two-day totals of 3-under-par 141. Alberto Sanchez of Nogales, Ariz., and Anton Arboleda of La Canada, Calif., share the Boys Division lead with 6-under-par 138s.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic is a 54-hole stroke-play competition held at The Reserve at Spanos Park. The tournament field consists of 72 boys and 27 girls from 14 states, Taiwan and Canada. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,082 yards while the Girls Division is playing at 6,314 yards.

Sanchez, who has posted 3-under-par 69s in both the first and second rounds has stayed consistent and confident with his play. The 14-year-old strung together five birdies, including one on the par-4 No. 17.

“I was trying hard to fight the wind and not go into the water on the right like I did yesterday,” Sanchez said. “Instead, I ended up in the deep rough on the left and I had to hit my 6-iron 180 yards into the wind. I ended up having a nice 8-foot birdie putt.”

As for tomorrow's final round, Sanchez views his only competitor to be the course.

“I'll go out there and play my own game,” he said. “If I get par, that means that I've tied the course. I plan on going low and beating the course tomorrow.”

Arboleda's strategy going into the second round was to take everything one shot at a time. It worked, as he carded six birdies and one eagle on the day.

“I was in a good state of mind out there,” Arboleda said. “I didn't get ahead of myself and I stayed calm. The eagle on No. 11 got my momentum going for the final holes. I ended up going 4-under-par on the back nine to finish the day.”

Following behind the leaders is Daniel Covrig of Modesto, Calif., who sits in third with a 3-under-par 141. Tied for fourth and sitting at two-under-par 142 are Bryan Bergna of Riverside, Calif., and Dashiell Lindsell of Burlingame, Calif.

Park tallied three birdies Wednesday en route to a 2-under-par 70 in the second round, including one on the par-4 No. 18, where she hit her 9-iron to set up the successful 4-foot birdie putt. While she wishes she had capitalized on more birdie opportunities, Park looks forward to tomorrow's final round.

“Today didn't go as well as I had hoped,” the 16-year-old said. “I could've done better on the front with my putting, but hopefully tomorrow will be better. I just need to calm down and work hard for everything in the final round.”

Shin's three birdies came on the front nine, allowing her to go 2-under-par at the turn. She credits her solid and focused mentality to her overall play.

“I don't put pressure on myself out there,” Shin said. “I'm competing only against myself and the course. I don't pay attention to what Victoria does. We've played together enough that tomorrow will be just like any other round.”

Five strokes behind the leaders is Seo Hee Moon of Mukilteo, Wash., who sits in third with a 2-over-par 146.

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 an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 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 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. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

The final round of the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic will be held Thursday, August 28, with tee times running off the No. 1 tee from 7 a.m. — 12:20 p.m. at The Reserve at Spanos Park. For more information regarding the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic, please contact Tournament Director Jeremy Freyman at (678) 617-9917.