Bard and Oshrine share the lead at the CorseMax / Philadelphia Runner Junior
Tsukiyama, Cheng sit atop the leaderboard in the Girls Division at White Manor Country Club
MALVERN, PA. — Derek Bard of New Hartford, N.Y., and Matt Oshrine of Baltimore, each fired a 1-under-par 70 to lead after 18 holes at White Manor Country Club. Kuriko Tsukiyama of West New York, N.J., and Anne Cheng of Torrance, Calif., share the lead in the Girls Division with a 3-over-par 74.
The CorseMax / Philadelphia Runner Junior is a 54-hole tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pa. The event features boys and girls, ages 12-18, from 14 states and three countries. The Boys Division is playing the par-71 course at 6,960 yards while the Girls Division is playing the course at 6,048 yards.
Bard finished with five birdies for the day including one on the par-3 No. 12. He contributes his low round to a strong back nine.
“I was struggling on the front nine but hit really well on the back nine and something must have clicked,” Bard said. “No. 12 was a tough hole on the back nine but I made birdie and that got me going for the day.”
Oshrine got off to a strong start with a birdie on No. 1. He continued his aggressive play throughout the day carding five birdies on the day.
“I got off to a good start and every time I made a bogey I came back with a birdie,” Oshrine said. “Once I started hitting good shots I could be less tentative and more aggressive and hit some really good shots.”
Ryan Siegler of West Windsor, N.J., and David Long of Catonsville, Md., are tied for third with an even-par 71. Tied for fifth place are Cody Cox of Milford, Pa., Chris Houston of Gilford, N.H., Harrison Shih of Saddle River, N.J., and Ben Cooley of Rydal, Pa., all with a 1-over-par 72.
Cheng shares the lead in the Girls Division and attributes her low round to her iron play.
“The course was really challenging,” Cheng said. “I was saved by my iron shots and hit about 17 greens in regulation which really helped me a lot.”
Tsukiyama sits atop the leaderboard with Cheng for the first time and believes consistency was key throughout her round Tuesday.
“It was a pretty consistent day throughout and I definitely just got my par and moved on for today,” Tsukiyama said. “I have never been in this position before so I am really excited for tomorrow and I am going to try and take it one shot at a time.”
In third place is Taylor Totland of Tinton Falls, N.J., carding a 4-over-par 75.
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.
The second-round tee times for the CorseMax / Philadelphia Runner Junior will run from 7 a.m. — 12:30 p.m off the No. 1 tee at White Manor Country Club. For more information on the CorseMax / Philadelphia Runner Junior, please contact Tournament Headquarters at (770) 617-3050 or visit the AJGA website at ajga.org.
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