MOORHEAD MAKES SECOND ROUND CHARGE AT THE EMERSON JUNIOR GOLF CLASSIC
Morris leads Girls Division by two heading into final round

POWAY, Calif. — Michael Moorhead of Newport Beach, Calif., took the second-round lead Wednesday at the Emerson Junior Golf Classic after he shot a 5-under-par 67, bringing him to a two-day total of 5-under-par 139. Rachel Morris of Carlsbad, Calif., has the second-round lead after she shot a 2-under-par 70, bringing her to a two-day total of 2-under-par 142.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Emerson Junior Golf Classic is 54-hole stroke play event being held at Maderas Golf Club. The tournament field features 57 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 10 states and Canada. The Boys Division played the par-72 course from 7,084 yards, while the Girls Division is playing at 6,065 yards.

Moorhead used a hot putter and precise chipping to record seven birdies on the day. After he bogeyed his first hole he went on to make three straight birdies, two of which were tap-ins. Going into Thursday's final-round he looks to maintain his conservative approach, especially on the fast, firm greens.

“This course can jump up and get you if you don't hit the ball in the right place,” Moorhead said. “I have played pretty conservative hitting a lot of irons off the tee to make sure that I put myself in position to hit the greens.”

Ramsey Sahyoun of Reseda, Calif., and Shane Lebow of Santa Barbara, Calif., are tied for second, each with two-day totals of 3-under-par 141. Sitting alone in fourth is Preston Valder of Yorba Linda, Calif., with a two-day total of 2-under-par 142. Kevin DeHuff of Coto de Caza, Calif., Allan Jun of Oceanside, Calif., Pete Fernandez Jr. of Bakersfield, Calif., and Trevor Simsby of La Costa, Calif., are all log-jammed in fifth with two-day totals of even-par 144

Morris, a local junior, fired a 2-under-par 70 to take the lead by two strokes in the Girls Division. Her steady play included four birdies coming on Nos. 2, 3, 9 and 17. This win would mean a lot as this is the only AJGA event held in her backyard.

“It would mean a lot to me to win so close to home,” Morris said. “Tomorrow I'm just going to play my own game and put up the best score I can.”

Elizabeth Doty of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., and Nicole Zhang of Calgary, Alberta, are in a tie for second each with two-day totals of even-par 144.

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 AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 200 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 350 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 Emerson Junior Golf Classic will run from 7:15 — 9:03 a.m. off the No. 1 tee and from 7:18 — 9:06 a.m. of the No. 10 tee Thursday at Maderas Golf Club. For more information, please contact National Headquarters at (770) 868-4200.