LIM TAKES THREE-SHOT LEAD INTO FINAL-ROUND AT RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB
Diaz-Yi cards a 2-over-par 74 to take lead in Girls Division

OXNARD, Calif. — Thomas Lim of Moorpark, Calif., held onto the lead after Wednesday's second-round at the Junior All-Star presented by CBIZ MHM. He shot 5-under-par 67 which brought him to a two-day total 7-under-par 137. Lauren Diaz-Yi of Thousand Oaks, Calif., shot a second-round 2-over-par 74 to take a one shot lead in the Girls Division which brought her to a two-day total of 3-over-par 147.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Junior All-Star Presented by CBIZ MHM is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at River Ridge Golf Club on the Victoria Lakes Course. The tournament field features 75 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-15, from 11 states, Argentina, Mexico, Canada and Thailand. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,831 yards, while the Girls Division is playing at 5,909 yards.

The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series is a collection of 11 events specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15 and presents opportunities for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into Open tournaments. The series concludes with the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

Lim, a hometown favorite, navigated the course nearly flawless despite the windy conditions. He recorded five birdies and an eagle in route to a 5-under-par 67. Lim finished the round on a high note chipping in for eagle on the 522 yard par-5 18th. Heading into Thursday's final-round his strategy is not going to change.

“I'm going to play aggressive tomorrow,” he said. “When I start playing defensive I never play as well.”

Andrew Levitt of Laguna Niguel, Calif., sits in second with a two-day total 4-under-par 140. In third is Jason Chen of Brea, Calif., with a two-day total 1-under-par 143. Brandon Roberts of Clayton, Calif. and Jonathan Sanders of Chatsworth, Calif. are tied for fourth each at even-par 144.

Despite having an up and down round, Diaz-Yi managed to record four birdies on the day. Her strong short game enabled her to shoot 2-over-par 74, the low round of the day in the Girls Division.

“It was like a roller coaster out there today,” she said. “I ended up making a lot of clutch saves for par.”

Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif., sits in second with a two-day total of 4-over-par 148. Sitting in third is Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, British Columbia with a two-day total of 8-over-par 152.

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, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 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.

Final-round tee times for the Junior All-Star Presented by CBIZ MHM will run from 7 a.m. — 12:10 p.m. off the No. 1 tee Thursday at River Ridge Golf Club on the Victoria Lakes Course. For more information, please contact the Tournament Director Sean Riley at (678) 617-2420.