Padova remains Boys Division leader by two strokes
Hoang takes the lead with a 1-over-par 73
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Austin Padova of Hudson, Fla., remains the Boys Division leader by two strokes after scoring a second-round 1-under-par 71 to total 4-under-par 140. Jessica Hoang of North Augusta, S.C., carded a 1-over-par 73 to take the lead at 2-over-par 146 heading into the final round.
The E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship presented by Electrolux is a 54-hole tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Jones Creek Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. The event features 72 boys and 23 girls, ages 12-18, from 17 states and six countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,818 yards, while the Girls Division is playing the course at 6,160 yards.
Padova had a tough beginning to his second round, but gained confidence after a birdie on No. 4 and an eagle on No. 5.
“My round was very up and down, but I feel like it was a pretty solid score for the day and I had a good comeback,” Padova said. “After the first two holes, I was 4-over; I had a quadruple on the second hole. Two holes later, I had a birdie and eagle back-to-back, so that was a big confidence booster.”
Richard Hubbard of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., is in second place at 2-under-par 142. Tied for third at 2-over-par 146 are Meechai Padungsiriseth of Bradenton, Fla., Anthony Alex of Wayne, N.J., Prem Samritpricha of Thailand, and Joseph Lewis of Savannah, Ga.
This year, Hoang has had a second place finish at the Golf Pride Junior Classic and a third place finish at the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star at Château Élan. With three birdies during the second round attributing to a three-shot lead, Hoang plans on continuing her successful mentality into the final round.
“My mentality going into today was just to try and relax and play my own game,” Hoang said. “Abby [Newton] and I kind of went back and forth throughout the front nine, so I just tried to relax after I had a double bogey on No. 7 and just play smart.”
Rachel Dai of Suwanee, Ga., and Abby Newton of Katy, Texas, are tied for second at 5-over-par 149.
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 more than 40 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, 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 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.
For more information on the E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship presented by Electrolux, please contact tournament headquarters at (770) 601-5196 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.
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