The Chase Is On At PGA Junior Series Event

Eureka, Mo., - At the first round of the 2010 PGA Junior Series at Fox Run Golf Club in Eureka, Mo., players who could stay mentally strong with the hot and humid conditions found themselves atop the leaderboard.  The three day tournament features over 110 juniors from 13 different states. 

Chase Hanna of Leawood, Kan., shot an impressive 2-under-par 70 to be the leader by four strokes over a group of five players that all shot a 2-over-par 74. 

Hanna, who was also round one leader at the PGA Junior Series event in Memphis, Tenn., earlier this summer, is looking to stay atop the Boys’ 16-18 Division all week.  He was able to make seven birdies on his round today.  

“I want to win this week and earn that exemption into the Junior PGA Championship,” said Hanna.  The 35^th Junior PGA Championship is played Aug. 2-5 in Fort Wayne, Ind., at Sycamore Hills Country Club.  Both the overall Girls’ and Boys’ 16-18 Division winners earn a spot in Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Two University of Iowa bound girls are found tied for the lead in the Girls’ 16-18 Division.  Shelby Phillips of Gilbert, Ariz., and Lauren English of Bloomington, Ill., both shot a 3-over-par 75. 

Both players who are veterans out on the PGA Junior Series are close friends and are excited to play together in round two.

Phillips played consist all day with hitting greens and fairways.  English, on the other hand, started off 5-over-par after three holes and played the rest of her round 2-under-par. 

In the Boys’ 13-15 Division Michael Sharp of Kendallville, Ind., grabbed the lead after firing a 2-over-par 74.  He is leading the division by one stroke over Alec Palen of Rogersville, Mo. 

This division will be interesting to watch as the week unfolds as anyone in the division still has a chance to win with two low rounds.  Previous winner this summer on the PGA Junior Series, Danny Summers of Mission Hills Kan., is only four strokes back and should be watched as someone who could come from behind to win. 

In the last division of the day Cassie Wang of Lenexa, Kan., shot a 10-over-par 82 to be leading the Girls’ 13-15 Division.  She has an 8 stroke lead heading into the second day. 

With another hot and humid day forecasted for tomorrow, players will need to remain patient out on the golf course if they want to move up the leaderboard during round two of the 2010 PGA Junior Series at Fox Run Golf Club.