HAGE SHOOTS CAREER-BEST FOR FIRST-ROUND LEAD
Lewis fires 5-under-par 67 to lead Boys Division

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - When Nicole Hage of Coral Springs, Fla., dropped her 10-foot putt on No. 18 her reaction was more than just the first-round lead in the Girls Division of the AJGA Hargray Junior Classic at Indigo Run. Hage shot a career-best 5-under-par 67 to take a four-stroke lead after the first-round. Rhett Lewis of Douglas, Ga., carded a 5-under-par 67 to lead the Boys Division.

The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, at the Golden Bear Golf Club, features 84 players, ages 13-18, representing 19 states. Fifteen juniors from South Carolina and four Polo Golf Junior All-Americans are included in the field.

Hage carded nines of 34-33 for the first-round lead.

"I couldn't believe that was me out there playing," the emotional Hage said. "I've never shot a 67, my best was a 69. Before my round, a friend told me to shoot a 66 and I didn't think I would come close.

"There are still 36 holes to be played," Hage, 15, said. "You can't be too extreme until that last putt drops on Friday, then you can watch my reaction."

Chasing Hage is Lisa Tyler of Lighthouse Point, Fla., with a 71 and Ashley Hoagland of Palmetto, Fla., with an even-par 72.

In the Boys Division, the 17-year-old Lewis hit 16 greens in regulation and carded six birdies, including birdies on three of his first five holes, en route to his first-round lead.

"Today I was hitting the ball well and putting great," Lewis said. "If I continue to putt like I did today, I will do well in the tournament."

Lewis, who is playing in his third AJGA event, knew he was at the top of his game after No. 14.

"I hit a 6-iron within three or four feet of the hole," Lewis said. "I knew I would be fine if I stayed consistent."

Tied for second place with 3-under-par 69s is Colin Floyd of Loris, S.C., Bill Roach, Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., Chris Robinson of Memphis, Tenn., Brian Duncan of Greenville, S.C., Joel Gibbons of Ocala, Fla., and Luke List of Riggold, Ga.

Second-round action begins Thursday at Golden Bear Golf Club, with tee times running from 8:00-9:57 off No. 1 and No. 10 tees.

For more information on the Hargray Junior Classic at Indigo Run, contact tournament headquarters at (843) 681-8160.

#AJGA#

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- First-round results from the HARGRAY JUNIOR CLASSIC AT INDIGO RUN conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Golden Bear Golf Club. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,786 Girls: 5,986

BOYS DIVISION

Rhett Lewis (2002) Douglas, Ga.* 35-32--67
Colin Floyd (2003) Loris, S.C.* 34-35--69
Bill Roach, Jr. (2001) Knoxville, Tenn.* 34-35--69
Chris Robinson (2001) Memphis, Tenn.* 34-35--69
Brian Duncan (2001) Greenville, S.C.* 33-36--69
Joel Gibbons (2001) Ocala, Fla.* 35-34--69
Luke List (2003) Ringgold, Ga.* 37-32--69
Alan Burnett (2002) Charlotte, N.C.* 36-34--70
Dan Gabel (2002) Poughkeepsie, N.Y.* 37-34--71
Sean Szerencsits (2002) Coplay, Pa.* 36-35--71
Thomas Jordan (2002) Sea Island, Ga.* 36-35--71
Tommy Balderston (2002) Boca Raton, Fla.* 33-39--72
Butler Melnyk (2001) Jacksonville, Fla.* 35-37--72
Adam Kolloff (2002) Stow, Mass.* 37-35--72
Mark Anderson (2004) Beaufort, S.C.* 38-35--73
Chiho Kwak (2002) Jacksonville, Fla.* 38-35--73
Michael Himebaugh (2002) Palm City, Fla.* 36-37--73
Brian Harman (2005) Savannah, Ga.* 38-35--73
Matt Bennett (2002) Cheraw, S.C.* 35-38--73
Kevin Kisner (2002) Aiken, S.C.* 36-37--73
Wes Hitchcock (2002) Parkland, Fla.* 36-37--73
Hunter Bendall (2003) Richmond, Va.* 38-35--73
Battle Hartman (2002) Jefferson, S.C.* 34-39--73
Eddie Peckels (2004) Delray Beech, Fla.* 38-35--73
Rand Boyd (2003) Savannah, Ga.* 38-36--74
David Cangemi (2002) Jacksonville, Fla.* 36-38--74
Bennett Smith (2002) Pittsburgh, Pa.* 34-40--74
Christopher Fenimore (2002) Great Falls, Va.* 38-36--74
Stuart Moore (2001) Gainesville, Ga.* 36-38--74
Steve Colnitis (2001) Baldwin, Md.* 39-35--74
Dustin Barr (2003) Mooresville, N.C.* 36-38--74
Alex Yates (2002) Winston-Salem, N.C.* 37-38--75
Matt Lawson (2002) Peachtree City, Ga.* 36-39--75
Robert Chen (2001) Orangeburg, S.C.* 39-36--75
Drake Bailey (2002) Hollywood, Ala.* 38-37--75
Daniel Day (2002) Cheshire, Conn.* 38-37--75
Andor Pruitt (2004) Cayce, S.C.* 38-37--75
Frank Wrenn (2004) Greenville, S.C.* 38-38--76
Brian Rozier (2003) Acworth, Ga.* 38-38--76
Drew Pigg (2002) Plano, Texas* 39-37--76
Craig Trahan, Jr. (2001) Marrero, La.* 36-40--76
Shane Behmer (2002) Lancaster, Pa.* 41-36--77
Sung Back (2003) Rossville, Ga.* 36-41--77
Matthew Smith (2002) Dunwoody, Ga.* 39-38--77
Fernando Figueroa (2002) Miami, Fla.* 44-33--77
Joel McAlhaney (2003) Aiken, S.C.* 37-40--77
Matt Sheldon (2002) Wolfeboro, N.H.* 39-38--77
Ryan Gabel (2004) Poughkeepsie, N.Y.* 38-39--77
Brendon Todd (2003) Cary, N.C.* 40-37--77
Aaron Yarmuth (2002) Harrods Creek, Ky.* 41-37--78
Matthew Bart (2002) Savannah, Ga.* 39-39--78
Matt Neusel (2003) Dearborn, Mich.* 37-41--78
Banks Wood, Jr. (2001) Charlotte, N.C.* 39-39--78
Devin O'Connor (2001) Seven Valleys, Pa.* 38-41--79
Ryan Cochran (2002) Paducah, Ky.* 40-39--79
Chris Rice (2003) Charlotte, N.C.* 38-41--79
Mark Finger (2004) Hilton Head, S.C.* 39-42--81
Adam Resmini (2001) Barrington, R.I.* 40-42--82
Robert Long (2002) Greensboro, N.C.* 41-41--82
Josh Hackler (2003) Myrtle Beach, S.C.* 40-43--83
Toshi Hirata (2002) Savannah, Ga.* 45-38--83
Tim Ferguson (2002) Hilton Head Island, S.C.* 42-41--83
Tyler Kassinger (2001) Evans, Ga.* 40-44--84
Matt Parker (2002) High Point, N.C.* 43-41--84
Steven Gay (2002) Cincinnati, Ohio* 43-41--84
Tripp Coggins (2001) Savannah, Ga.* 45-40--85
Mark Christman (2002) Duluth, Ga.* 41-45--86
Daniel Levy (2002) Rydal, Pa.* 42-45--87
David Webb (2002) Atlanta, Ga.* 43-45--88

GIRLS DIVISION

Nicole Hage (2003) Coral Springs, Fla.* 34-33--67
Lisa Tyler (2002) Lighthouse Point, Fla.* 36-35--71
Ashley Hoagland (2001) Palmetto, Fla.* 34-38--72
Darby Sligh (2001) North Augusta, S.C.* 36-37--73
Chris Brady (2003) Apex, N.C.* 36-37--73
Christie Reed (2004) Coral Springs, Fla.* 38-37--75
Jackie Beers (2002) Midlothian, Va.* 39-36--75
Lorraine Ballerano (2002) Myrtle Beach, S.C.* 39-37--76
Dayna Burleigh (2002) Horsham, Pa.* 39-38--77
Theresa Paik (2003) Silver Springs, Md.* 39-39--78
Christy Larrimore (2002) Severna Park, Md.* 41-39--80
Jeehae Lee (2002) Andover, Md.* 41-41--82
Vicki Yi (2006) Fayetteville, Ga.* 39-43--82
Colby Cobb (2001) Mount Pleasant, S.C.* 45-37--82
Brooke Layton (2002) Tampa, Fla.* 47-38--85