LEVITT PACES THE FIELD AT STOCKTON SPORTS COMMISSION JUNIOR CLASSIC
Na tops Girls Division at The Reserve at Spanos Park

STOCKTON, calif. — Andrew Levitt of Laguna Niguel, Calif., took the lead Tuesday during the first round of the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic after firing a 4-under-par 68. Grace Na of Oakland, Calif., leads the Girls Division by one stroke after she finished the round at 2-under-par 70.

               
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic is a 54-hole stroke play event being held at The Reserve at Spanos Park. The tournament field features 72 boys and 27 girls, ages 12-18, from five states, Mexico, Japan, China and Canada. The Boys Division played the par-72 course from 7,039 yards, while the Girls Division is playing at 6,246 yards.

Levitt, still hot from his recent win at the Emerson Junior Golf Classic, began his round strong with birdies on the first two holes. After a steady streak of pars, Levitt made bogey on No. 9 to turn at 1-under-par 35. He continued to play solid on the back nine, recording birdies on three holes, including the 399 yard par-4 No. 18. Levitt’s drive went right towards the hazard, and after a long search he found the ball embedded, and knocked his next shot onto the green to make birdie.  

“The greens are really quick and you don’t want to hit the ball past the pin,” Levitt said. “I left myself in the right positions. I wasn’t too far away and I didn’t short side myself.”

Robert Jacobsen of Racine, Wis., and Tomohiro Umeyama of Mooka-City, Japan, are tied for second after shooting 1-under-par 71. Tied for fourth are Charlie Benell of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Lawerence Ree of Redondo Beach, Calif., Samuel Buchman of Los Angeles, Calif., Richard Sunghee Jeong of Arcadia, Calif., Robert Palacios of Chino Hills, Calif., and Alfred Castro of La Quinta, Calif., each shot even-par-72.

In the Girls Division, Na was in the zone. She started the round out with three birdies on the first four holes. After five consecutive pars, Na finished the front at 3-under-par 33. Her back nine was not as smooth, but Na remained cool and managed to get up and down on several holes to save par.

“I had a lot of fun today,” Na said. “I scrambled a bit on the back nine and bogeyed the last two holes, but I feel like those are the hardest two holes on the course, when the wind picks up and the pressure is on. But I took it shot by shot and just had fun. I hope to do the same again tomorrow.”

               
Erynne Lee Silverdale, Wash., sits in second after shooting 1-under-par 71. Rounding out the top-3 is Paige Spiranac of Monument, Colo., who shot even-par-72.

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 for the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic will run from 7:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. off the No. 1 tee, Wednesday at The Reserve at Spanos Park.

For more information about the Stockton Sports Commission Junior Classic please contact Tournament Director Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana at (678) 617-2424.