SERAMIN AND HANSEN GET HOT ON BACK NINE, TAKING ONE-SHOT LEAD AT TRADER JOE’S JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP HOSTED BY PAT HURST

Baraquiel shines brightest in round one at Castlewood Country Club

PLEASANTON, Calif. – Matthew Seramin of San Geronimo, Calif., and Matthew Hansen of Los Osos, Calif., turned in splendid back nine scores of 4-under-par 31 and 3-under-par 32, respectively, to claim their share of the first-round lead by one shot with 3-under-par 67s at the Trader Joe’s Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst.  Sunshine Baraquiel of Chatsworth, Calif., took control of the Girls Division with a 1-under-par 69, asserting herself as the first-round leader by two shots.
       Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Trader Joe’s Junior Championship hosted by Pat Hurst is a 54-hole stroke play event held at Castlewood Country Club – Hill Course. The 99 player field features players from seven states, Chile, Thailand, Argentina, New Zealand and Philippines. The Boys Division is playing the par-70 course at 6,215 yards, while the Girls Division is playing at 5,659 yards.
       Following Seramin’s solid front nine 36, he wasted little time in getting started on the back nine, notching back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 and a birdie on No. 13 as well.  Seramin contributed his spectacular back nine 4-under-par 31 to his birdie on No. 10, which he says jump started him on the back.
       “I birdied No. 10, and I knew I could go low after that because I like the look of the back nine - there are a lot of scoring opportunities,” Seramin said.  “I just played consistent.  I hit it in the right spots on greens because they can be difficult, and I putted well.”
       Hansen’s back nine followed a similar path as Seramin, draining consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11.  He went on to continue his hot play with a birdie on No. 14, concluding his round with four pars in a row.
       “I hit the ball decent, but I chipped really well.  When I missed greens, I had tap-ins, and I made birdies on all the holes I should,” Hansen said.  “Then, I made a really big eight-footer for par on No. 17 to keep it low and finish it.”
       Close behind the two co-leaders in a tie for third are Christopher Petefish of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Yi Keun Chang of Walnut, Calif., after firing 2-under-par 68s.  Rounding out the top five in a tie for fifth at 1-under-par 69 are Dashiell Lindsell of Burlingame, Calif., David Saka of Waipahu, Hawaii, and Matthew Negri of El Cajon, Calif.  Saka’s round was especially memorable, as he made a hole-in-one on the second most difficult hole on the course, par-3 No. 17, to close out his round.
       Baraquiel, who is ranked No. 60 in the Polo Golf Rankings, relied on her putting throughout, needing only 27 putts.  After a 1-over-par 36 on the front side, Baraquiel ratcheted up her game on the back nine with birdies on Nos. 11, 14, and 16 to post the only under-par round in the Girls Division.
       “It was a flawless round,” Baraquiel said.  “I made putts, which is the most important thing, but I was hitting a lot of greens or hitting it on the fringe when I missed the greens.”
       Irina Paulin Gabasa of Cebu, Philippines, lies just two shots back of Baraquiel in second at 1-over-par 71.  Rounding out the top three in the Girls Division is Marguerite Swearingen of Livermore, Calif., at 3-over-par 73.
       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.
       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 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.
       Second-round tee times will run from 7 – 12:20 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at Castlewood Country Club – Hill Course. For more information, please contact Tournament Director Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana at (678) 617-2424.