Montgomery fights through sickness at Las Vegas Junior Open
Kaui continues to lead Girls Division at Anthem Country Club

HENDERSON, Nev. — Taylor Montgomery of Henderson, Nev., battled illness all day carding a 2-under-par 70 and taking the lead in the Boys Division. In the Girls Division, Alexandra Kaui of Las Vegas continued her first-round lead, firing an even-par 72.

The Las Vegas Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Anthem Country Club in Henderson, Nev. The tournament field features 54 boys and 24 girls from eight states and nine countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,246 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,173.

Montgomery suffered through food-poisoning on Wednesday, but he did not let it affect his game.

“I just went out there and ignored it,” Montgomery said. “Ignoring helped a lot; I just focused on my game today and was able to hit the ball real well, I hit most of my fairways.”

Arthur Edelman of Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., ended the day with a 3-under-par 69 to sit in second place. AJ McInerney and Kenden Slattery of Henderson, Nev., Josh Fisher of Las Vegas, Troix Tonkham of Arleta, Calif., and Alexis Gemme Piacente of Montreal are tied for third at 1-under-par 143.

In the Girls Division, Kaui bogeyed five holes on the day but managed to make three birdies and an eagle to end up at even par.

“I didn't play as well today,” Kaui said. “I was all over the place and there were a lot of mistakes, but I made my birdie opportunities. My putting was much better today and I was fortunate enough to make some long putts.”

Jenny Hahn of Henderson, Nev., finished the second round in sole possession of second place by firing a 3-under-par 69. UNLV-bound Dana Finkelstein of Chandler, Ariz., is in third after shooting a 1-over-par 73.

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 more than 40 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, 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 500 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Morgan Pressel.

Final-round tee times for the Las Vegas Junior Open will begin at 7:30 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees Thursday at Anthem Country Club. For more information about the Las Vegas Junior Open, contact Tournament Headquarters at (678) 327-6982.