McDonald-Smith Takes Five-Stroke Lead into Final Round at Lessing's AJGA Classic
Lippetz holds grasp on lead by three strokes at Long Island National Golf Club

Riverhead, N.Y. — After a personal best of 65 in the first round, Xander McDonald-Smith of Rockaway Park, N.Y., holds his spot atop the leaderboard with 2-over-par 73 Wednesday. First-round leader, Jordan Lippetz of Bradenton, Fla., continues her lead in the Girls Division with a 3-over-par 74.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Lessing's AJGA Classic is a 54-hole stroke play event held at Long Island National Golf Club. The field features 74 boys and 22 girls, ages 12-18, from 15 states Canada and Thailand. The par-71 course is playing at 6,776 yards in the Boys Division and 6,030 yards in the Girls Division.

Compared to Tuesday's first round, McDonald-Smith said, “Today I feel like I hit the ball the same. I just didn't make as many putts as yesterday or get in a zone or anything.”

McDonald-Smith birdied the par-5 10th for a second time to post a tournament total of 4-under-par 138 and said his focus going into the final round is to stick to his game plan with one shot at a time and to just have fun.

Behind McDonald-Smith are Michael Chen of Bradenton, Fla. and Theo Humphrey of Greenwich, Conn. at 1-over-par 143. Tied for fourth are Stephen Pastore of Greenwich, Conn., Brian Tohir of New Canaan, Conn., and Daniel Myers of Ridgefield, Conn., at 2-over-par 144.

Sinking a 30-foot putt on the par-5 No. 18 for birdie, Lippetz came back with birdies on both back-nine par 5s to finish with a 2-over-par 144 tournament total.

“That closed my round out good and gave me confidence for tomorrow,” she said.

Behind Lippetz at 5-over-par 147 is Courtney Hooton of Del Mar, Calif., Hanu Ku of Basking Ridge, N.J. and Daffodil Sanchez of Mesa, Ariz. are tied for third at 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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Final round tee times for the Lessing's AJGA Classic will from 7 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. off the No. 1 tee. For more information, please contact Tournament Headquarters at 678-617-2417.

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