MCGEE TAKES LEAD IN BOYS DIVISION AT NIKE GOLF JUNIOR AT QUAD CITIES
DiGrazia leads Girls Division by two strokes

LONG GROVE, Iowa — Michael McGee of Kansas City, Mo., leads the Boys Division after one round of play at the Nike Golf Junior at Quad Cities. Gianna DiGrazia of Addison, Ill., holds a 2-stroke lead in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Nike Golf Junior at Quad Cities is being held at Glynns Creek Golf Course. The tournament is a 54-hole stroke-play event that hosts a field of 83 players. Twenty-three states are represented in the field that consists of 68 boys and 15 girls, ages 12 — 15.

The Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series is a collection of 10 events specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12 — 15 years old. The competition provides an opportunity for younger members to develop their skills and earn entry into open tournaments. The series concludes with an invitation-only Nike Golf Junior Championship, Sept.1 — 3, 2006 in Aurora, Ore.

McGee made six birdies to card a 4-under-par 68. Competing in his second AJGA event, McGee holds a one-stroke lead going into the second round.

“My putter was working well,” McGee said. “Usually it's my foe, but today it started coming together.”

Going into the next two rounds McGee says the important thing will be to stay consistent.

“I just can't get ahead of myself,” McGee said. “I have to take it one shot at a time.”

Following McGee, in second place is Evan Beck of Virginia Beach, Va., at 3-under-par 69. Paul McConnell of Garland, Texas, is in third place with a 2-under-par 70. In a tie for fourth place are Nicholas Losole III of Scottsdale, Ariz., Kyle English of Bloomington, Ill., David Kurtz of Edmond, Okla., Alexander Lyall of Novi, Mich., Anthony Aicher of Wausau, Wis., Landon Tujague of Dallas, Texas, Jack Schultz of Whitefish Bay, Wis., and Harrison Higgs of Overland Park, Kan., who carded 71s.

In the Girls Division, DiGrazia shot a 1-over-par 73 after making three birdies in the first round.

“I was just looking to put up a solid round for the first day,” DiGrazia said. “My iron play went really well, and I gave myself easy birdie attempts.”

Lauren English of Bloomington, Ill., is in second place after carding a 3-over-par 75. Tied for third place are Alexis Holmes of Lincoln, Neb., and Christine Meier of Rochester Hills, Mich., with matching 77s.

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.

Second-round tee times begin at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday off Nos. 1 and 10 tees. For more information about the Nike Golf Junior at Quad Cities call (563) 285-6635.