THORNBURG HOLDS ONE-SHOT LEAD AT AJGA SOUTHWESTERN JUNIOR CLASSIC
Three Players Sit Atop Girls Division

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-Brian Thornburg fired a 3-under-par 69 to grab a one-shot lead after the second round of the AJGA Southwestern Junior Classic at the par-72 Isleta Eagle Golf Course. Thornburg, who recently graduated from LaCueva High School in Albuquerque, is at 7-under 137, one shot ahead of Casey Fowles of Delta, Utah. Fowles and Thornburg shared the first-round lead with Nathan Lashley at 4-under par 68.

In the Girls Division, Shannon Johnson, Alyssa Otero and Aimee Cho share the lead at 4-over par 148.

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.

Thornburg, a New Mexico State University signee who finished second in the New Mexico State High School Tournament three weeks ago, carded nines of 35-34 to post his second round in the 60s in as many days. Thornburg had four birdies, and got as low as 8-under when he birdied the 602-yard, par-5 17th.

"I played pretty solid all day, with the exception of Nos. 2 and 18," Thornburg said. "I had a downhill putt on 18, and it was my only bogey of the day. The greens were much faster than yesterday. I'm hitting a lot of greens, but just not making a lot of putts."

Fowles shot 70 and is one shot back at 138 (-6). Fowles went out in 33, but shot a 1-over 37 on the back nine to finish at 2-under for his round.

Casey Jones of Granbury, Texas, is two back at 139 after shooting a 2-under 70 today. Jones birdied holes 9-12 to get to 7-under, but bogeyed Nos. 15 and 17 to finish his round. Andrew Dresser of Carrollton, Texas, turned in the low round of the day with a 4-under 68, and is three back at 140. Oklahoma Christian signee Shaun Melville of Lubbock, Texas, is in fifth after posting a 3-under 69. He is at 141, four shots behind Thornburg.

Johnson and Otero turned in identical 2-over par 74s on their way to the second-round lead in the Girls Division.

Johnson, a University of New Mexico signee, used a strong performance for the second straight day to gain the lead. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native birdied Nos. 8 and 16, and had nines of 37-37.

"I went out just trying to make pars today. On this course, you need to stay below the hole and make putts. I did that fairly well today," Johnson said, who just won the South Dakota Class A State Title.

Johnson said that she had a little extra incentive to play well this week.

"I wanted to play well this week, since this is where I will be going to school. It gives me a big boost to come down here and have a strong finish," Johnson added.

Otero also turned in her second straight 74 (35-39). Otero remained consistent mirroring her nines of yesterday.

"I played just about the same as yesterday. I went out under par and came in over par. I guess that I'm consistent," Otero joked, who just won the New Mexico Class 3A state title by a whopping 18 strokes.

Otero said her strength was her fairway play.

"I hit a lot of greens (15-of-18) today," Otero said. "I just need to go out and focus on my game tomorrow, and hopefully the putts will fall."

First-round leader Cho was 2-under yesterday, but dropped off today with a 78 (42-36).

"I struggled on the front nine, but played well on the back nine," Cho said. "I just didn't try hard on the front nine and hit it all over the place. On the back nine, I relaxed and felt less pressure. Tomorrow, I need to just go out and have fun and enjoy being in the last group."

Final-round action will begin on Friday with tee times beginning at 7:00 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at Isleta Eagle Golf Course. For more information on the AJGA Southwestern Junior Classic, please contact Steve Bailey with AJGA at 505-869-0950 or check the AJGA website at www.ajga.org.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Second-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

Brian Thornburg (2001) Albuquerque, N.M.* 68-69--137
Casey Fowles (2002) Delta, Utah* 68-70--138
Casey Jones (2002) Granbury, Texas* 69-70--139
Andrew Dresser (2002) Carrollton, Texas* 72-68--140
Shaun Melville (2001) Lubbock, Texas* 72-69--141
Nathan Lashley (2001) Scottsbluff, Neb.* 68-74--142
Ryan Posey (2002) Dallas, Texas* 72-71--143
Brett Myers (2003) Broken Arrow, Okla.* 70-74--144
Chad Wilcox (2003) Peoria, Ariz.* 74-70--144
Pat Moore (2001) Phoenix, Ariz.* 75-70--145
Brian Fitzpatrick (2001) Harrison, N.Y.* 75-70--145
Jason Sigler (2001) Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.* 74-71--145
Shane Sigsbee (2003) McKinney, Texas* 71-75--146
Tyler Symons (2001) Albuquerque, N.M.* 74-72--146
Michael Unger (2002) Edmond, Okla.* 72-74--146
Scooter Jefferson (2003) Montgomery, Texas* 74-72--146
Ryan Rainer (2001) Norman, Okla.* 70-76--146
Stephen Newren (2002) Salt Lake City, Utah* 71-75--146
Cale Barr (2003) Versailles, Ky.* 73-74--147
Jeremy Alcorn (2003) Brownwood, Texas* 73-74--147
Davis Nordell (2002) El Paso, Texas* 72-75--147
Dustin Mills (2001) Arvada, Colo.* 72-75--147
Troy Denton (2001) Dallas, Texas* 75-72--147
Adam Wainio (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 74-73--147
Ryan Henry (2003) Broken Arrow, Okla.* 75-73--148
Cole Kuykendall (2001) Sour Lake, Texas* 74-74--148
Dean Rodgers (2001) Lake Jackson, Texas* 77-71--148
Tim Connors (2001) Rye, N.Y.* 72-77--149
Eddie Rowe (2001) Monahans, Texas* 76-73--149
Matt Best (2003) Pauls Valley, Okla.* 72-77--149
Thomas Oh (2001) Englewood, Colo.* 77-72--149
Leo Corrigan (2002) Dallas, Texas* 74-75--149
Ben Dowell (2001) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 74-75--149
Tyler Romero (2003) Lake Havasu City, Ariz.* 74-76--150
Jake Lambert (2003) Jackson, Miss.* 76-74--150
Nathan Piller (2001) Duncanville, Texas* 78-72--150
Spencer Dennis (2001) Arroyo Grande, Calif.* 74-77--151
Luke Antonelli (2002) Silt, Colo.* 78-73--151
Josh Wilburn (2003) Tulsa, Okla.* 79-72--151
Jonathan Henderson (2002) Mobile, Ala.* 73-78--151
Jesse Barnsley (2004) Albuquerque, N.M.* 76-75--151
Adam Young (2002) Stephenville, Texas* 78-74--152
Brian Grossman (2002) Mansfield, Texas* 76-76--152
Ryan Shaver (2003) Alto, N.M.* 78-74--152
Zach Fullerton (2005) Albuquerque, N.M.* 79-73--152
Marcus Martinez (2002) Santa Fe, N.M.* 75-77--152
Daniel Ponder (2003) Lonetree, Colo.* 76-76--152
Derek Allen (2002) Phoenix, Ariz.* 75-78--153
Jordan Williams (2002) Aurora, Colo.* 77-76--153
Craig Trahan Jr. (2001) Marrero, La.* 81-72--153
Chad Follett (2003) El Paso, Texas* 77-76--153
Steve Saunders (2005) Albuquerque, N.M.* 79-74--153
Cameron Kulbeth (2002) Lubbock, Texas* 75-78--153
Darren Lundgren (2001) Ballwin, Mo.* 77-76--153
Casey Caldwell (2004) Albuquerque, N.M.* 83-71--154
Aaron Weston (2002) Lone Tree, Colo.* 80-74--154
Kenny Coakley (2002) Lakewood, Colo.* 79-75--154
Tyler Sanders (2002) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 79-75--154
Michael Martin (2002) Littleton, Colo.* 78-76--154
Matt Amen (2002) Anaheim, Calif.* 77-78--155
Louie Morgan (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 74-81--155
Jake Grodzinsky (2003) Cornville, Ariz.* 83-73--156
Caleb Etheredge (2002) Victoria, Texas* 78-78--156
Marc Johnson (2003) Albuquerque, N.M.* 76-80--156
Doug Kingston (2001) Bethlehem, Pa.* 77-80--157
Josh Hatch (2002) Phoenix, Ariz.* 77-80--157
Daniel Hernandez (2002) Chandler, Ariz.* 77-80--157
Chase Cooper (2003) Guymon, Okla.* 80-78--158
Daniel Scholz (2002) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 84-74--158
Johan Willhoite (2001) Palm Desert, Calif.* 82-77--159
Jason Myers (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 81-78--159
Blake Barnett (2002) Wichita Falls, Texas* 76-83--159
Marcus Molina (2003) Albuquerque, N.M.* 81-79--160
Alex Bidelman (2001) Cornelius, N.C.* 76-84--160
Chris Curran (2002) Sapulpa, Okla.* 82-78--160
Matt Savage (2003) Scottsdale, Ariz.* 81-80--161
Jarryd Foreman (2002) Odessa, Texas* 77-84--161
A.J. Bowers (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 81-82--163
Elliott Paull (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 84-80--164
Brian Petri (2002) Westminster, Colo.* 80-87--167
Austin Wetsch (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 87-83--170

GIRLS DIVISION

Shannon Johnson (2001) Sioux Falls, S.D.* 74-74--148
Aimee Cho (2002) Orlando, Fla.* 70-78--148
Alyssa Otero (2003) Santa Fe, N.M.* 74-74--148
January Romero (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 72-77--149
Natascha Lorenz (2001) North Miami Beach, Fla.* 75-75--150
Christine Fernandez (2002) Henderson, Nev.* 72-79--151
Alana Johnson (2003) Litchfield Park, Ariz.* 79-72--151
Brooke Todare (2004) Paradise Valley, Ariz.* 76-76--152
Candy Herrera (2002) Apple Valley, Calif.* 79-73--152
Symantha Mendenhall (2002) Phoenix, Ariz.* 78-75--153
Jaclyn Stelzer (2003) Allen, Texas* 76-77--153
Jennifer Pandolfi (2004) Navarre, Fla.* 75-79--154
Maggie Ramirez (2002) Albuquerque, N.M.* 77-77--154
Dana Je (2003) Apopka, Fla.* 80-76--156
Aimee Tjelmeland (2002) Ft. Collins, Colo.* 80-77--157
Lindsay Hulwick (2001) Littleton, Colo.* 76-82--158
Kelli Van Winkle (2002) Roswell, N.M.* 83-77--160
Leslie Wall (2003) Dallas, Texas* 83-78--161
Treas Nelson (2001) Lawton, Okla.* 78-85--163
Laurie Neill (2002) Roswell, N.M.* 89-81--170
Janet Degroat (2002) El Paso, Texas* 88-83--171
Amber Coleman (2001) Tucson, Ariz.* 85-86--171