Campbell Takes Two-Shot Lead Heading into Final Round at ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior
Lee holds top spot in Girls Division
Rancho Mirage, Calif. — Brian Campbell of Irvine, Calif., fired a 4-under-par 68 to take the second-round lead at the ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior with a tournament total of 5-under-par 139. In the Girls Division, Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif., sits atop the leaderboard at 3-under-par 141.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, The ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior is a 54-hole stroke-play event held at Mission Hills Country Club on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. The 78-player field features 51 boys and 27 girls from five states, Argentina, and Thailand. The Boys Division is playing from 7,101 yards and the Girls Division is playing from 6,177 yards.
Campbell started off strong with a birdie on No. 2 and was able to maintain momentum throughout the round. Campbell had five birdies on the day, including back-to-back birdies on Nos. 6, 7, 11 and 12.
“I was putting well and wasn't making any big mistakes,” Campbell said. “My irons felt great and I just want to stay focused and consistent going into the final round.”
In second place with 4-under-par 140 is Xander Schauffele from San Diego. Ben Steinen of La Quinta, Calif., sits in third place at 3-under-par 141. Alexander Forss of Temecula, Calif., stands alone in fourth place at 2-under-par 142 and rounding out the top five is Andrew Levitt of Ladera Ranch, Calif., at 1-under-par 143.
Lee, who is ranked fifth in the Polo Golf Rankings, is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship. Lee was able to capitalize on her approach shots during the second round, tallying four birdies on the front nine and two on the back nine.
“I started off with a bogey on No. 10 and quickly caught up with a birdie on No. 11,” Lee said. “From then on, I felt really confident with my game and played consistent golf.”
In the Girls Division, Veronica Valerio of Temecula, Calif., sits in second place at even-par 144. In third place from Cerritos, Calif., is Beverly Vatananugulkit at 1-over-par 145.
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 run from 6:30 — 8:18 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Mission Hills Country Club — Dinah Shore Tournament Course. For more information about the ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior at Mission Hills Country Club, please contact tournament headquarters at 678-617-2424 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.
