Lin and Kim Share Lead in Girls Division at AJGA Philadelphia Open Championship

Cox jumps ahead in Boys Division at Huntingdon Valley Country Club

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. — Christine Lin of Austin, Texas and Anna Kim of Chandler, Ariz., are tied for the lead heading into the second round after finishing with a first-round score of 2-over-par 72. Cody Cox of Milford, Pa., leads the Boys Division after carding an even-par 70.

The AJGA Philadelphia Open Championship is a 54-hole stroke play event conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at Huntingdon Valley Country Club—Toomey & Flynn Courses in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. The tournament field boasts 56 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18, from 15 states, Dubai and Canada. The Boys Division is playing the par-70 course at 6,836 yards and the Girls Division is playing at 6,019 yards.

Lin attributed her consistent first round to her putting game, which lead her to card three birdies and 11 pars.

“I birdied on No. 12 and that really got my putting going,” Lin said. “I had more putts near the end and played a pretty solid back nine overall.”

Lin feels confident going into the second round despite the difficult fairways and greens at Huntingdon Valley Country Club.

“ I just told myself to hit the middle of the fairway, middle of the green and stay out of trouble,” Lin said. “This is my last tournament for the summer, so I hope to finish strong.”

Kim started off the first round strong with a birdie on No. 1.

“My first shot landed in the rough on the left side and I layed up just short of the green for my second,” Kim said. “I putted in for the birdie which kind of got my momentum started for the day.”

Rounding out the top three for the Girls Division was Jordan Lippetz of Bradenton, Fla., with a first-round score of 3-over-par 73.

Cox played a consistent first round at Huntingdon Valley Country Club, including back-to-back birdies on the front and back nine of the course.

“My favorite shot was on No. 13,” Cox said. “I hit a pretty poor tee shot and it almost went in the hazard, but my pitch shot came within inches of the hole; it was perfect.”

Matt Oshrine of Baltimore, Md., and Roshan Chekuri of Pleasanton, Calif., both carded a 1-over-par 71. Stephen Piela of Wallington, N.J., finished the first-round with a 2-over-par 72. Rounding out the top five were Austin Powell of Jupiter, Fla., and Theo Humphrey of Greenwich, Conn., who both shot a score of 3-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.

For more information about the AJGA Philadelphia Open Championship, please contact the Tournament Director, A.J. Donaldson at (678) 386-1487 or visit ajga.org.