JANDEL TAKES CONTROL OF BOYS DIVISION AFTER 6-UNDER-PAR 66
Ross extends lead to three strokes in Girls Division

DUBLIN, Ohio — Sam Jandel of Dayton, Ohio carded a 6-under-par 66 for a two-day total of 133 to take sole possession of the lead in the Boys Division Wednesday at the Nationwide Insurance Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament. Hunter Ross of Manakin-Sabot, Va., added to her first-round lead by firing an even-par 72, giving her a three-shot lead at 1-over-par in the Girls Division.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Nationwide Insurance Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament is a 54-hole stroke-play event being held at The Country Club at Muirfield Village. The

98-player field features players from 19 states and Canada. The Boys Division is playing the event at 6,812 yards, while the Girls Division is playing at 6,084 yards.

Jandel, who was tied for the lead going into the Wednesday, rebounded from an early bogey on No. 3 to birdie Nos. 8, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 17.

“After the bogey, I had four pars in a row,” he said. “I just kept telling myself that par was good. I just kept making the 10-foot putts and the birdies started to come.”

Jandel also attributes some of his success to a ritual he has developed at this tournament.

“My friends and I went to the go-kart track the last two nights before our rounds and we all shot good scores,” he said. “We might have to go again.”

Adam Sumrall of South Bend, Ind., is in second place with a score of 71-67-138, while Ethan Tracy of Hilliard, Ohio is in third at 71-68-139. Ryan Mason of Bridgeport, W. Va., and Philip Gieseker of Saline Mich., are tied for fourth place with two-day totals of 140.

In the Girls Division, Ross said she continued to drive the ball well and put herself into position to make some big shots.

“On No. 6, I hit a pitching wedge from 110 yards to within a foot for a tap-in birdie,” she said. “That really helped my confidence and allowed me to be more relaxed as the round went on. I am excited about tomorrow and will just try to play the same way I have the first two rounds.

Mitsuki Katahira of Wheaton, Ill., is in sole possession of second place with a 77-71-148 . Samantha Swinehart of Lancaster, Ohio and Stephanie Wagstaff of Asheville, N.C., are tied for third at 149.

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 49 states and 25 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989.

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 Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

Final-round tee times for the Nationwide Insurance Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament will run from 7 — 11:48 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 2 off the No. 1 tee. For more information, please contact tournament headquarters at (614)764-1714, ext. 138.