Harvey Penick Junior All-Star
A Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star series event
Grey Rock Golf Club Austin, Texas
August 8-11, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas – Osama Khan of St. James, Barbados, leads at the Harvey Penick Junior All-Star after posting a 2-under-par 70 in just his second AJGA event. In the Girls Division, Cynthia Navis of Point Clear, Ala., leads by a single stroke after carding an even-par 72 at Grey Rock Golf Club.
The Harvey Penick Junior All-Star is one of ten events in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. Specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series presents opportunities for younger players to develop their skills and earn entry into AJGA Open tournaments. The Series concludes with the Montverde Academy All-Star Invitational over Columbus Day weekend for winners and top finishers in Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy All-Star Series events. The tournament field includes 55 boys and 20 girls, ages 12-15, from 13 states, Canada, Barbados and Mexico. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,607 yards, while the Girls Division played at 5,854 yards.
Khan currently holds a two-stroke lead over his nearest competitor as he carded four opening-round birdies. However, while leading after the first round is nice, Khan realizes that there is a lot of golf left to play before the tournament is said and done.
“Being in the lead after the first round is definitely a good feeling,” Khan said. “However, there is still two rounds left so I need to refocus for tomorrow and Thursday’s rounds in order to score this well again.”
Currently in a five-way tie for second place at even-par 72 are Connor Smith of Birmingham, Ala., Matthew Beringer of Macon, Ga., Shintaro Ban of San Jose, Calif., Philip Delisi of Harker Heights, Texas, and Carter Patterson of The Woodlands, Texas.
In the Girls Division, Navis recorded an even-par 72 in a round which included three birdies. In just her second AJGA event, Navis feels good about being in the lead, but has also enjoyed her experience at the event in general.
“It feels great to be in the lead after the first round,” Navis said. “I really love this course and the greens are in great condition. Tomorrow I want to just continue to play my game and have fun with the girls in field since they are great competition.”
Currently in second after carding a 1-over-par 73 is Abigail Cantwell of Scottsdale, Ariz., while Anna Kim of Broken Arrow, Okla., sits in third at 3-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.
Second-round tee times for the Harvey Penick Junior All-Star will run from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Grey Rock Golf Club. For more information about the Harvey Penick Junior All-Star at Grey Rock contact Tournament Director Lindsay Dodge at (770) 365-1699.
