LIPSKY GRABS AN EARLY LEAD AT HIS LAST AJGA EVENT
Lee salvages round with two birdies, leads Girls Division by one stroke

COTO DE CAZA, Calif. — David Lipsky of La Canada, Calif., took the Boys Division lead after the first round of the Pinnacle Communities Junior Championship by firing a 3-under-par 69. Jenny Lee, also of La Canada, Calif., shot a 1-over-par 73 to sit atop the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Pinnacle Communities Junior Championship is being played on Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club's par-72 North Course. The 54-hole event features 72 boys and 27 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 states and two countries, including 77 players from California.

Before heading off to Northwestern University, Lipsky wants to end his AJGA career just like he started it—with a win. In 2003, he took home the trophy at the Ashworth Postseason Junior at Rancho Mirage. The recent graduate was off to a good start Wednesday, leading the Boys Division by one stroke.

“This is my last AJGA tournament ever so of course it would mean a lot to go out on top,” he said.

The 17-year-old carded three birdies in his bogey-free round to go 1-under-par on the front and then 2-under-par on the back nine. Lipsky said he credits both his approach shots and short game for a solid round of golf.

“Well, I only missed one green,” he said. “I had recently switched putters because the other one just wasn't working anymore. The putts just continued to drop.”

T.J. Bordeaux of Tacoma, Wash., is second in the Boys Division, shooting 2-under-par 70. Sihwan Kim of Buena Park, Calif., and Andrew Perez of Oxnard, Calif., are tied for third with matching 71s. Tied for fifth place, all with 1-over-par 73s, are Eric Mina of Fremont, Calif., Nick Delio of Valencia, Calif., Michael Drake of Riverside, Calif., and Kenneth McCready of Placerville, Calif.

In the Girls Division, Lee began with two bogeys early in her round, but she quickly countered with two birdies for an even-par front nine. The 16-year-old said it was No. 6 when her game really turned around.

“I made a 30-foot putt downhill and after that, I started playing better,” she said.

A rising senior, Lee was most comfortable with her driver on the course, as she consistently hit fairways. The win would be her first, receiving medalist honors at the 2005 Fidelity Investments Junior Championship Srixon Qualifier and second place at the 2005 Stars of Texas Junior. With a close one-stroke lead, she knows what is needed for the next two rounds of golf.

“I'll play how I played today,” Lee said confidently. “Just hit greens and fairways, no rough.”

Won Joo Choi of Temecula, Calif., and Victoria Fallgren of Lakewood, Calif., are tied for second in the Girls Division, shooting 74 for the day.

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 largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign counties.

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 Pinnacle Communities Junior Championship will begin Wednesday, August 10 with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. off the No. 1 tee. For more information on the Pinnacle Communities Junior Championship, contact tournament headquarters at (949) 858-4100 and ask for the AJGA, or visit the AJGA Web site at ajga.org.

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