HU HOLDS LEAD WITH A SECOND-ROUND 72 IN AMES
Leclair paces the Girls Division through two rounds

AMES, Iowa - Mu Hu of Bradenton, Fla., carded an even-par 72 Wednesday to take the lead in the Boys Division during the second round of play at the AJGA Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Ames. Taking the Girls Division lead was Bethany Leclair of Scottsdale, Ariz., with a 78.

The 54-hole event is being held on the par-72 Veenker Memorial Golf Course at Iowa State University. Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Ames features 87 players with boys and girls, ages 13-15, representing 26 states, including four juniors from Iowa.

Hu's (69-72-141) goal for the second round was to finish with a 70 or 71, but his even-par round was good enough to keep his name on top of the leaderboard for the second day in a row.

"I hit it pretty well today," the 13-year-old Hu said. "My putting was so-so. I only sank a few."

Mark Jones, 15, of Odessa, Texas is one shot behind Hu after the second round, and also struck the ball well. He has one goal in mind for the final round.

"My goal is to not play my competitors, but to play the golf course," he said.

Rounding out the top five of the leaderboard for the Boys Division after two days were Philip Francis of Scottsdale, Ariz., with a 72-71-143, Adam Long of St. Charles, Mo., with a 71-72-143, and Jonathan Khan of Tucson, Ariz., with a 73-72-145.

Leclair (83-78-161) took the lead in the Girls Division after turning it up a notch on the back nine.

"I started hitting the ball straight," the 15-year-old Leclair said. "It would stick beside the flag and I was able to make my putts."

Following close behind in the Girls Division are So-Hyun Park of Bradenton, Fla., who sits in second, and Shannon Fish of Spring, Texas, who is third heading into the final round.

The winners from this week's event will receive two tournament exemptions into AJGA Open events and an invitation to the Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series Championship in Portland, Ore. A top-eight finish for the boys and a top-three finish for the girls in any Nike Junior All-Star Classic Series event will receive an invitation to the Nike Golf Junior All-Star Series Championship.

Final round tee times will begin on Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 a.m. off the No. 1 and 10 tees at Veenker Memorial Golf Course.
For more information on the AJGA Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Ames, contact the AJGA at Veenker Memorial Golf Course at (515) 294-6727.

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