AJGA TOLDO GROUP EASTERN CANADIAN JUNIOR
Roseland Golf and Curling Club
Windsor, Ontario
June 24-27, 2002

KOKRAK'S 67 LEADS FROM START TO FINISH IN THE BOYS DIVISION
McConnell jumps out to a two- shot lead in the Girls Division, after the first round

WINDSOR, Ontario -- Jason Kokrak of Warren, Ohio, was the first player to tee off in the first round of the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior, and he is the leader after firing a 4-under-par 67. Mandi McConnell of Grand Blanc, Mich., stands atop the Girls Division after carding a 1-over-par 73.

The 54-hole tournament, hosted by the American Junior Golf Association, features 99 players from 10 states, Canada and Bermuda, including 34 Ontario natives.
Kokrak led the 6:30 a.m. tee time to an 18-hole round in three hours and twenty minutes.

Aside from a blazing pace around the course, Kokrak minimized his errors and his low score stuck throughout the day.

"The course played fairly easy for me today," Kokrak said. "I missed only one or two fairways the whole day. I haven't been playing well recently, so it's nice to see everything come together."

Two days of competition remain, but the 17-year-old Kokrak is focused and aims to continue having fun as the week goes on.

"I just want to play solidly the rest of the week," Kokrak said. "It doesn't matter if I score higher or lower, I just want to play well, and I know good things will happen."

Sunday qualifier Eric Meierdierks of Wilmette, Ill., is second after a 3-under-par 68. Bradley Moulton of Orangeville, Ontario; Richard Scott of Kingsville, Ontario and Matthew Harmon of Grand Rapids, Mich., are in a three-way tie for third after carding rounds of 2-under-par 69.

McConnell had two bogeys through the first four holes, but she settled down the rest of the way as she consistently made her putts.

"My ball striking was great today, and I made some pretty important putts," McConnell said. "I really think this is a nice course, but the greens are tricky, so I'm happy that I didn't three-putt today."

The 17-year-old McConnell, a seasoned AJGA participant, has never finished better than third, but she is upbeat about her chances to garner her first AJGA title.

"I just want to stay focused," McConnell said. "I want to play well regardless of what score I shoot. It'll be important for me to keep putting well this week."

Ashley Bickerton of Ottawa, Ontario, and Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla., both shot 3-over-par 75 to stand in a tie for second.

Second-round action will run from 6:30 - 11:18 a.m. off the No. 1 tee at Roseland Golf and Curling Club.

For more information on the Toldo Group Eastern Canadian Junior, please contact tournament headquarters at (519) 969 - 5740, or visit the Association's Web site at ajga.org.

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