Christenson Climbs to Top of Leaderboard at the Columbus Junior Presented by the Memorial Tournament
Weaver catapults to an eleven-stroke lead at The Country Club at Muirfield Village

DUBLIN, OHIO — Following the second round of the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament, RayVaun Christenson of Ozark, Mo., claimed the leader position in the Boys Division with a two-day score of 7-under-par 137. Last year's champion, Lindsey Weaver of Scottsdale, Ariz., continued her hold on the Girls Division carding a 13-under-par 131.

The Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament is a 54-hole stroke play tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Country Club at Muirfield Village. The tournament field features 75 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 17 states, Thailand, Mexico and Canada. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,835 yards while the Girls Division is playing at 6,090 yards.

Christenson has been strong on the golf course this week, scoring a 4-under-par 68 for the first round and 3-under-par 69 for the second round. After a recent struggle with his putting, Christenson says that aspect of his game is back in line and has given him confidence this week. His second round was a rollercoaster of birdies and bogeys on the front nine but he was able to steady himself on the back.

“On the front nine, it seemed like I was going to shoot around par today because I kept going birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey,” Christenson said. “I had three birdies on the front and two bogeys but on the back I just bogeyed No.12 and was able to finish strong.”

Andrew Fogg of Greenwood, Ind., Connor Tendall of North Potomac, Md., Alex Carpenter of Westerville, Ohio, Hunter Stewart of Nicholasville, Ky., and Charlie Phillips of Mount Vernon, Ohio, are tied for second with scores of 6-under-par 138.

Weaver's dominant play in the Girls Division continued through the second round carding seven birdies and zero bogeys. Aided by a new putter, she has been sinking more putts from longer distances this tournament than ever before. The highlight of her day was a 30-foot putt from the fringe on No.9, the third in a four birdie streak.

“I have a lot more confidence in my putting which really helps me when I step over a putt,” Weaver said. “For tomorrow, I don't feel any pressure. Anything can happen and I will just try not to think about the past two days and concentrate on what I have to do that day.”

Samantha Swinehart of Lancaster, Ohio, is in second with a two-day total 2-under-par 142. Kendall Prince of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Morgan Ransom of Columbus, Ohio, are tied for third with tournament totals of 3-over-par 147.

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 Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament will run from 7 a.m. — 12:20 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at The Country Club at Muirfield Village. For more information about the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament please contact Tournament Director Jonah Beck at (678) 617-2425.