LOCAL STAR TIED FOR LEAD WITH 4-UNDER 68 AT ISLETA EAGLE
Polo Golf Junior All-American Aimee Cho leads Girls Division

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-Nathan Lashley, Brian Thornburg and Casey Fowles shot 4-under-par 68 to lead the first round of the AJGA Southwestern Junior Classic at Isleta Eagle Golf Course. First-team Polo Golf Junior All-American Aimee Cho of Orlando, Fla., leads the Girls Division with a 2-under-par 70.

The tournament field for the 18th annual Southwestern Junior Classic, conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, includes 81 boys and 22 girls from 20 states and England. Doug Kingston of Bethlehem, Pa., and Darren Lundgren of Ballwin, Mo., are honorable mention Polo Golf Junior All-Americans, joining Cho with national honors.

Lashley of Scottsbluff, Neb., a University of Arizona signee, shot 33-35-68 to tie for the lead in the Boys Division.

"I hit the ball pretty well today including chipping in on No. 8 from 30 yards out for an eagle," Lashley said. "I played pretty decent all-around, but I didn't putt great. I will need to putt better tomorrow."

Thornburg, a local player from nearby Albuquerque, shot 3-under par 33 on the front nine and 1-under par 35 on the back.

"I played great today," Thornburg said. "The course was tough and the greens were lightning quick. I birdied No. 10 and 11, and from then on out I got up and down when I needed to. I didn't hit too many fairways and I need to work on that to stay competitive in the final two rounds."

Hailing from Delta, Utah, Fowles was the final player to come in at 68. The 16-year old, playing in his third AJGA tournament, did the opposite of Thornburg and shot 1-under par on the front nine and 3-under par on the back.

"I struck the ball well all day," Fowles said. "I didn't make many putts, but I stuck an iron shot on No. 14 and that gave me a little momentum. Then I birdied the last two holes to finish the round."

Chasing the co-leaders are Casey Jones of Granbury, Texas, and Brett Myers of Broken Arrow, Okla. Jones sits in fourth place with a 3-under par 69 and Myers stands two shots back at 2-under par 70.

Cho's 2-under par 70 is leading the Girls Division with Christine Fernandez of Henderson, Nev., and local talent January Romero of Albuquerque, N.M., coming in at even-par 72.

The 17-year-old Cho, recently finished second at the AJGA Thunderbird International Junior and early in the year she qualified for LPGA Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.

"My tee-time (7:18) was a little early, but I survived and once I got going I did well," Cho said. "I hit it pretty good all day and played steady, hopefully I can do that the next two rounds."

Second-round action will begin on Thursday with tee times beginning at 7:00 a.m. off No. 1 tee at Isleta Eagle Golf Course.

#AJGA#

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- First-round results from the AJGA SOUTHWESTERN JUNIOR CLASSIC conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Isleta Eagle Golf Course. Par: 36-36--72. Yardage: Boys: 6,909 Girls: 5,834

BOYS DIVISION

Nathan Lashley (2001) Scottsbluff, Neb.* 33-35--68
Brian Thornburg (2001) Albuquerque, N.M.* 33-35--68
Casey Fowles (2002) Delta, Utah* 35-33--68
Casey Jones (2002) Granbury, Texas* 36-33--69
Brett Myers (2003) Broken Arrow, Okla.* 35-35--70
Ryan Rainer (2001) Norman, Okla.* 34-36--70
Shane Sigsbee (2003) McKinney, Texas* 36-35--71
Stephen Newren (2002) Salt Lake City, Utah* 37-34--71
Shaun Melville (2001) Lubbock, Texas* 36-36--72
Tim Connors (2001) Rye, N.Y.* 36-36--72
Davis Nordell (2002) El Paso, Texas* 36-36--72
Matt Best (2003) Pauls Valley, Okla.* 37-35--72
Andrew Dresser (2002) Carrollton, Texas* 36-36--72
Dustin Mills (2001) Arvada, Colo.* 38-34--72
Michael Unger (2002) Edmond, Okla.* 33-39--72
Ryan Posey (2002) Dallas, Texas* 38-34--72
Cale Barr (2003) Versailles, Ky.* 35-38--73
Jeremy Alcorn (2003) Brownwood, Texas* 35-38--73
Jonathan Henderson (2002) Mobile, Ala.* 36-37--73
Leo Corrigan (2002) Dallas, Texas* 37-37--74
Ben Dowell (2001) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 34-40--74
Adam Wainio (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 37-37--74
Tyler Romero (2003) Lake Havasu City, Ariz.* 36-38--74
Chad Wilcox (2003) Peoria, Ariz.* 37-37--74
Tyler Symons (2001) Albuquerque, N.M.* 39-35--74
Spencer Dennis (2001) Arroyo Grande, Calif.* 37-37--74
Jason Sigler (2001) Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.* 37-37--74
Cole Kuykendall (2001) Sour Lake, Texas* 38-36--74
Scooter Jefferson (2003) Montgomery, Texas* 34-40--74
Louie Morgan (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 37-37--74
Marcus Martinez (2002) Santa Fe, N.M.* 37-38--75
Cameron Kulbeth (2002) Lubbock, Texas* 36-39--75
Pat Moore (2001) Phoenix, Ariz.* 36-39--75
Ryan Henry (2003) Broken Arrow, Okla.* 40-35--75
Brian Fitzpatrick (2001) Harrison, N.Y.* 36-39--75
Derek Allen (2002) Phoenix, Ariz.* 39-36--75
Troy Denton (2001) Dallas, Texas* 34-41--75
Jesse Barnsley (2004) Albuquerque, N.M.* 38-38--76
Daniel Ponder (2003) Lonetree, Colo.* 36-40--76
Marc Johnson (2003) Albuquerque, N.M.* 40-36--76
Jake Lambert (2003) Jackson, Miss.* 39-37--76
Eddie Rowe (2001) Monahans, Texas* 38-38--76
Alex Bidelman (2001) Cornelius, N.C.* 40-36--76
Brian Grossman (2002) Mansfield, Texas* 39-37--76
Blake Barnett (2002) Wichita Falls, Texas* 40-36--76
Daniel Hernandez (2002) Chandler, Ariz.* 38-39--77
Dean Rodgers (2001) Lake Jackson, Texas* 36-41--77
Darren Lundgren (2001) Ballwin, Mo.* 42-35--77
Doug Kingston (2001) Bethlehem, Pa.* 39-38--77
Matt Amen (2002) Anaheim, Calif.* 38-39--77
Jordan Williams (2002) Aurora, Colo.* 39-38--77
Chad Follett (2003) El Paso, Texas* 37-40--77
Jarryd Foreman (2002) Odessa, Texas* 38-39--77
Josh Hatch (2002) Phoenix, Ariz.* 39-38--77
Thomas Oh (2001) Englewood, Colo.* 37-40--77
Michael Martin (2002) Littleton, Colo.* 39-39--78
Adam Young (2002) Stephenville, Texas* 37-41--78
Luke Antonelli (2002) Silt, Colo.* 39-39--78
Caleb Etheredge (2002) Victoria, Texas* 40-38--78
Ryan Shaver (2003) Alto, N.M.* 39-39--78
Nathan Piller (2001) Duncanville, Texas* 41-37--78
Tyler Sanders (2002) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 38-41--79
Steve Saunders (2005) Albuquerque, N.M.* 42-37--79
Josh Wilburn (2003) Tulsa, Okla.* 39-40--79
Kenny Coakley (2002) Lakewood, Colo.* 39-40--79
Zach Fullerton (2005) Albuquerque, N.M.* 38-41--79
Chase Cooper (2003) Guymon, Okla.* 40-40--80
Aaron Weston (2002) Lone Tree, Colo.* 39-41--80
Brian Petri (2002) Westminster, Colo.* 36-44--80
Craig Trahan Jr. (2001) Marrero, La.* 42-39--81
Matt Savage (2003) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 38-43--81
A.J. Bowers (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 39-42--81
Marcus Molina (2003) Albuquerque, N.M.* 39-42--81
Jason Myers (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 43-38--81
Johan Willhoite (2001) Palm Desert, Calif.* 39-43--82
Chris Curran (2002) Sapulpa, Okla.* 41-41--82
Casey Caldwell (2004) Albuquerque, N.M.* 40-43--83
Jake Grodzinsky (2003) Cornville, Ariz.* 38-45--83
Daniel Scholz (2002) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 41-43--84
Elliott Paull (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 40-44--84
Austin Wetsch (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 44-43--87

GIRLS DIVISION

Aimee Cho (2002) Orlando, Fla.* 34-36--70
Christine Fernandez (2002) Henderson, Nev.* 35-37--72
January Romero (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 35-37--72
Alyssa Otero (2003) Santa Fe, N.M.* 34-40--74
Shannon Johnson (2001) Sioux Falls, S.D.* 38-36--74
Natascha Lorenz (2001) North Miami Beach, Fla.* 36-39--75
Jennifer Pandolfi (2004) Navarre, Fla.* 38-37--75
Brooke Todare (2004) Paradise Valley, Ariz.* 39-37--76
Jaclyn Stelzer (2003) Allen, Texas* 39-37--76
Lindsay Hulwick (2001) Littleton, Colo.* 40-36--76
Maggie Ramirez (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 39-38--77
Treas Nelson (2001) Lawton, Okla.* 37-41--78
Symantha Mendenhall (2002) Phoenix, Ariz.* 39-39--78
Candy Herrera (2002) Apple Valley, Calif.* 39-40--79
Alana Johnson (2003) Litchfield Park, Ariz.* 40-39--79
Aimee Tjelmeland (2002) Ft. Collins, Colo.* 40-40--80
Dana Je (2003) Apopka, Fla.* 42-38--80
Kelli Van Winkle (2002) Roswell, N.M.* 42-41--83
Leslie Wall (2003) Dallas, Texas* 42-41--83
Amber Coleman (2001) Tucson, Ariz.* 44-41--85
Janet Degroat (2002) El Paso, Texas* 43-45--88
Laurie Neill (2002) Roswell, N.M.* 42-47--89