UIHLEIN, STANLEY AMONG FOUR-WAY TIE FOR LEAD AT MIRASOL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Bodemann leads Girls Division at The Country Club at Mirasol
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.—Rolex Junior Player of the Year Peter Uihlein of Bradenton, Fla., Kyle Stanley of Gig Harbor, Wash., Major Forbess of Jacksonville, Fla., and Christopher Carlin of Miramar, Fla., all fired a 3-under-par 69 to tie for the lead after the first round of the Mirasol Junior Championship Tuesday. Alexandra Bodemann of Palm City, Fla. shot an even-par 72 to clinch a 1-shot lead in the Girls Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Mirasol Junior Championship is a 54-hole stroke-play competition featuring 84 boys and girls from seven states and six foreign countries. Home to the PGA TOUR's Honda Classic from 2003-2006, The Country Club at Mirasol is hosting the event for the third consecutive year.
Two-time Rolex Junior All-American Stanley struggled on the front nine, but quickly recovered on the back nine carding a 5-under-par 31.
“I gave myself opportunities all day long, but I didn't take advantage of them until after the 12th hole,” Stanley said. “I birdied five of my last seven holes.”
Uihlein and Carlin credited their successes to their solid short games.
“I putted really well,” Uihlein said, looking for his sixth AJGA victory. “I switched back to an old putter.”
Carlin, who only had 27 putts on the day, is searching for his first AJGA victory.
While the putter was hot for Uihlein and Carlin, Forbess capitalized on his good iron play.
“My irons were on and I could control my distances well,” Forbess said.
The top of the leaderboard was crowded as Tommy Chung Hao Mou of Taipei, Taiwan, Jhared Hack of Heathrow, Fla., and Brooks Koepka of Wellington, Fla., all tied for fifth at 2-under-par 70.
In the Girls Division, Bodemann attributed her success to well-rounded play.
“I was hitting the ball great today,” Bodemann said. “The few greens I missed I made sure I got up and down.”
Jessica Yadloczky of Casselberry, Fla., Lindy Duncan of Plantation, Fla., Jade Bollinger of Wellington, Fla., and Sandra Changkija of Orlando, Fla., are tied for second at 1-over-par 73.
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, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Paula Creamer.
The second round of the Mirasol Junior Championship will be held at The Country Club at Mirasol—Sunrise Course off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, Thursday, June 8, with tee times running from 7:30-9:27 a.m. For more information about the Mirasol Junior Championship please contact tournament headquarters at (561) 776-4949, ext.187 or call Tournament Director Jeremy Freyman at (678) 617-9917.
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