Dou, Moorhead start off strong at the Genesis Junior Championship
Kaui sets course record, takes first-round lead at Sycuan Resort's Willow Glen Course

EL CAJON, Calif. — Zecheng Dou of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and Michael Moorhead of Newport Beach, Calif., tied for the first-round lead at 5-under-par 67, Tuesday at the Genesis Junior Championship. In the Girls Division, Alexandra Kaui of Las Vegas, fired a 5-under-par 67, setting the competitive course record and taking the lead at Sycuan Resort's Willow Glen Course.

The Genesis Junior Championship is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Sycuan Resort's Willow Glen Course in El Cajon, Calif. The tournament field features 96 boys and 36 girls from nine states and seven countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 6,657 and the Girls Division is playing at 6,058 yards.

Dou fired seven birdies on the day, including four consecutive on the front nine. As a first year AJGA player, Dou has secured two third-place finishes at the AJGA Junior Challenge and the Emerson Junior Golf Classic.

Recording five birdies and an eagle, Moorhead got his round off to a strong start, making birdie on Nos. 1 and 2.

“I kept the same strategy throughout the round and will bring it tomorrow,” Moorhead said. “Be less aggressive and more conservative.”

Walker Huddy of Studio City, Calif., Drew Miller of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Robert Palacios of Chino Hills, Calif., are tied for third at 4-under-par 68.

Kaui carded four birdies and an eagle on the day to take the first-round lead. Kaui said her eagle on No. 17 kept her confident as she finished her round. Taking a two-stroke lead into the second round, Kaui said she's going to keep the same mindset.

“I'm going to take it easy on myself tomorrow,” Kaui said. “Not try too hard but let it come naturally.”

In second place for the girls is Jenny Hahn of Henderson, Nev., at 3-under-par 69. Marissa Hinchman of Lodi, Calif., recorded 1-under-par 71 for third place.

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.

Second-round tee times for the Genesis Junior Championship will run from 7:15 — 9:05 a.m. and noon — 1:40 p.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, Wednesday at Sycuan Resort's Willow Glen Course. For more information about the Genesis Junior Championship, contact Tournament Director Casey Ceman at (678) 327-6982 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.