Griffin's Second Consecutive Under-Par Round Keeps Him Atop the Leaderboard at the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship
Ferguson continues strong performance to lead Girls Division at Southern Oaks Golf Club

FORT WORTH, Texas— Despite four bogeys, Will Griffin of Lufkin, Texas, sits at the top of the leaderboard at the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship after a 2-under-par 69 to bring his tournament total to 7-under-par 135. Courtney Ferguson of Houston shot a 2-over-par 73 to lead the Girls Division by four strokes at Southern Oaks Golf Club to bring her two-day total to 4-under-par 138.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship is a 54-hole stroke play event held at Southern Oaks Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The 144-player field boasts junior golfers from 14 states, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines. The Boys Division is playing the course at 7,124 yards while the Girls Division is playing at 6,017 yards.

After a stellar 5-under-par 66 in the first round, Griffin attributed his second consecutive under-par round to his putting.

“Today was different, I had four bogeys,” Griffin said. “I wasn't as consistent off the tee, but I putted well. When I'm making putts, I feel I can post a low score, and that's what I need to do tomorrow.”

This is the first lead Griffin has had going into the final round of an AJGA event, but said his confidence from the past two days will lead him to play well and hopefully win the tournament.

Tied for second place with a 4-under-par 138 are Brandon Ng of Toronto, Ontario, and Adam Colwell of The Woodlands, Texas. In fourth place is Brax McCarthy of Fort Worth, Texas, with a 2-under-par 140. Myles Lewis of Metairie, La. is in fifth place at even-par 142.

After a lost ball on her first hole of the day that resulted in a double bogey, Ferguson kept her composure and finished the rest of the round at even par.

“I was weary of starting on No. 10, but after I knew the ball was gone, I went back to the tee and regrouped,” Ferguson said.

Four strokes behind Ferguson at even-par 142 is Betty Chen of Castro Valley, Calif. Tied for third place with a tournament total of 2-over-par 144 is Irina Paulin Gabasa of Cebu, Philippines, and Joyce Kim of Carlsbad, Calif.

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 provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

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. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Final round tee times will begin at 7:30 a.m. of Nos. 1 and 10 tees Thursday, June 24, at Southern Oaks Golf Club. For more information about the Elbit Systems of America Junior Championship, please contact Annie Giangrosso at (678) 571-7994.