Kelly cards a 2-under-par 69 to claim lead at the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament
Grogan leads the Girls Division by 4 strokes on the Scarlet Course

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tee-k Kelly of Wheaton, Ill., posted a 2-under-par 69 on Tuesday at the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament. In the Girls Division, Lauren Grogan of Columbus, Ohio, carded a 1-under-par 70 early in the day at The Ohio State University Golf Club — Scarlet Course.

The Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Ohio State University Golf Club — Scarlet Course. The tournament field includes 72 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18 from 17 states, Canada and Colombia. The Boys Division is playing the par-71 course at 6,992 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,062 yards.

Kelly started his day with a birdie on No. 1 and didn't look back. He made the turn following an even par 36 on the front nine and put together a pair of birdies and seven pars en route to his 2-under-par 69. Kelly feels confident in the way he's navigating the Scarlet Course and looks to stay on track over the next two days with his 2-shot lead.

“I never really was behind after birdying the first hole,” Kelly said. “I'm going to make sure I go through my same routine throughout the whole week so I don't get lost with where I'm at after the first round.”

Mert Selamet of Dublin, Ohio, Matthew Gerard of Rocky River, Ohio, Beau Titsworth of Avon Lake, Ohio, and Ben Cooley of Rydal, Pa., entered the clubhouse in a four-way tie for second after rounds of even par 71.

After an even par 36 on the front nine, Grogan was also able to card two birdies on the back nine and finish the day at 1-under-par 70. She looks to continue playing aggressive on a course that she considers to be challenging. Grogan will take a four shot lead into Wednesday's second round.

“I can't sit back and expect to coast through the next two days,” Grogan said. “People are going to post low scores and I need to play my own game and play it one shot at a time.”

Kendall Prince of Lake Oswego, Ore., finished the day in second place in the Girls Division following a 3-over-par 74. Elyse Smidinger of Crofton, Md., and Silvia Garces of Cali, Colombia, sit in a tie for third after posting rounds of 5-over-par 76.

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.

Second round tee times for the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament will run from 7 a.m. — 12:10 p.m. off the No. 1 tee at The Ohio State University Golf Club — Scarlet Course. For more information about the Columbus Junior presented by the Memorial Tournament, contact Tournament Headquarters at (678) 995-4322.