Finnell, Fu in search of first AJGA win at AJGA Junior at Centennial
Li takes lead at Centennial Golf Club

MEDFORD, Ore. — Skyler Finnell of Carmel, Calif., and Lawrence Fu of Piedmont, Calif., each carded a 3-under-par 69 to grab a share of the lead at the AJGA Junior at Centennial at 6-under-par 138. In the Girls Division, Catherina Li of Kent, Wash., birdied her final two holes to take the lead entering the final round.

The AJGA Junior at Centennial is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Centennial Golf Club in Medford, Ore. The tournament field features 107 boys and 33 girls from 12 states and six countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-72 course at 7,155 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,035 yards.

Finnell sunk a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 No. 9, his final hole of the afternoon. After two consecutive bogey-free rounds, Finnell says he will be going into the final round with an aggressive mentality.

“I'm going to keep gunning for birdies and not just stay content where I am,” Finnell said.

After hitting a wayward tee shot on No. 15 into the tall fescue grass, Fu made a 20-foot putt to save par and remain bogey-free on the back nine.

“It's the par putts that keep me going,” Fu said. “Instead of bogeying and going backwards, you really keep the momentum going.”

First-round leader Andrew Morgan of Long Beach, Calif., sits in third place with a tournament total of 5-under-par 139. Shearn Chua of Beaumont, Calif., will enter the final round in fourth place at 4-under-par 140. Frank Garber of Kirkland, Wash., is in fifth place at 3-under-par 141.

Li fired a 3-under-par 69, bringing her tournament total to 5-under-par 139. After finishing second at last week's W. Duncan MacMillan Classic at Rush Creek, Li says she is entering the final round determined to earn her first AJGA victory.

“Tomorrow I'm going to stay in the present and try to shoot the course record. I mean, why not?” Li said. “I'm just going to relax and have fun.”

Allisen Corpuz of Honolulu, moved into second place with a 3-under-par 141 tournament total. Amy Lee of Brea, Calif., is in sole possession of third place with a tournament total of 1-under-par 143.

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 AJGA Junior at Centennial are from 7 — 9:00 a.m off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, Thursday at Centennial Golf Club. For more information about the AJGA Junior at Centennial, contact tournament headquarters at (678) 327-6982.