PGA.com

Tour News Quick Links


Shop PGA
 

Three tied for lead in boys' division in Junior PGA Championship

- PGA.com

MAINEVILLE, Ohio -- T.J. Vogel of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Anthony Paolucci and Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas, are tied for the lead in the boys' division following the second-round of play at the 2008 Junior PGA Championship at TPC River's Bend.

Spieth, who was in a tie for 10th place after the opening round, fired a second-round 64 to match Miguel Cabrera-Bello in 2004 for best second-round score in Junior PGA Championship history. He did not card a single bogey and credits his brilliant play to being very aggressive on the course.

jrpga_pic3.jpg
Jordan Speith celebrates a great putt on the 9th hole. (Photo: Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

"It is hard to play safe out here, and if you do that you are going to give yourself some tough putts and you will start aiming shots and not hitting fairways," said Spieth, who is playing in his first Junior PGA Championship. "Being aggressive has always been my game plan and yesterday I got away from that. I will not do that anymore this week."

Vogel, the first-round leader, played a solid round to keep himself in contention.

"I played a bogey-free round today, which I can not complain about, but it could have been better," said Vogel, who has only two bogeys over his first 36 holes. "My ball striking was definitely better of the tee yesterday and it has to be for the rest of the week for me to win this Championship."

Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill., is in fourth place, two strokes behind the leaders. Tyler McCumber of Ponte Vedra, Fla., son of former PGA Tour player Mark McCumber, is in fifth place overall and three strokes off the pace. Mark McCumber won 10 times on the PGA Tour between 1979 and 1994, including the Players Championship in 1988 and the Tour Championship in 1994.

jrpga_pic2.jpg
John Popeck and Luke Guthrie enjoy their time at the Jr. PGA Championship. (Photo: Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

Danielle Frasier of Encinitas, Calif., continues to lead in an impressive girls' division after firing a 72 in her second round. Frasier leads Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., Erynne Lee of Siverdale, Wash., and Sarah Brown of Phillipsburg, N.J., by one stroke.

"I have to keep giving myself chances, but it all comes down to putting," said Frasier. "I have to be more aggressive then I was today. I played it a bit too safe out there."

Frasier carded three birdies and three bogeys during her second round of play and admits that hitting greens in regulation has been pivotal to her success at TPC River's Bend this week.

"I struggled on the putting on the back nine but overall I hit the ball pretty well," said Frasier. "I am playing solid golf and that is what I have to do to win this week."

jrpga_pic1.jpg
Lauren Kim intently watches a shot on the 17th hole. (Photo: Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

Brown, who tied for ninth place at the 2008 U.S. Girls Junior, will try and limit her mistakes over the final two rounds.

"I lost my concentration a few times out there and have made mistakes," said Brown, who is playing in her first Junior PGA Championship. "I will not let that happen again."

Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., last year's champion, moved into a tie for ninth place after a second-round 71. She was in a tie for 12th place after the opening round.

"If I just get my putter working better I will be good. It is still not good, but it is better," said Thompson, winner of the 2008 U.S. Girls Junior. "My summer has gone really great so far but I am really motivated to win golf tournaments and I hope to play well the next two days."

Begun in 1976, The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally produced unforgettable golf performances and brings together the best junior golfers from around the country to compete for the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the boys' division and the Patty Berg Trophy in the girls' division.

The Championship has been a stepping stone for competitors to either collegiate or Tour professional careers. The list of past Champions includes some of the most prominent current Tour professionals: Billy Andrade (1981), Billy Mayfair (1982), 2001 PGA Champion David Toms (1984), Sean O'Hair (1998), reigning U.S. Women's Open Champion In-Bee Park (2001, -02), reigning Masters Champion Trevor Immelman (1996), Grace Park (1996) and 2007 LPGA Rookie of the Year Angela Park (2004).

Golf Channel will present a one-hour highlight show from the Junior PGA Championship beginning Oct. 27, at 7:00 p.m. EDT with re-airings on Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. and Dec. 11, at 4:00 p.m.

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

 
Ask The PGA Experts
Ryder Cup
 

Most Popular Stories

Wie opens with a promising 69 in first round of LPGA Tour Q-School

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- With little fanfare and even less to say, M... continue reading

Daly hopes to conquer putting woes at Australian PGA Championship

COOLUM, Australia (AP) -- Six years after throwing his putter into a po... continue reading

Play Golf America

Helping To Grow The Game

One of the most important missions for the PGA of America is to promote and grow the game of golf.


About PGA.com | Advertising | Feedback | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
© 2003-2008 PGA / Turner Sports Interactive. All rights reserved.
PGA.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network