Stephanie Meadow (71) lying joint sixth

in Polo Golf Junior Classic in Florida

FROM THE AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE

Emiliano Grillo of Resistencia, Argentina, Tanner Kesterson of Plano, Texas, Oliver Schniederjans of Powder Springs, Ga., and Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., share the lead after solid first qualifying round play at the Polo Golf Junior Classic. All four high school juniors shot 5-under-par 67 on the Haig Course at PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Doris Chen of Bradenton, Florida holds sole possession of the Girls Division lead after carding five birdies in a four-under-par 68 on the Champion course.
The Polo Golf Junior Classic, which has been conducted annually since 1978, marks the first tournament of the American Junior Golf Association's 2010 season. The 156-player invitation-only field is made up of 78 boys and 78 girls, ages 12-18, from 25 states and 11 foreign countries. Former champions include Stewart Cink (1989), Trevor Immelman (1995), Tiger Woods (1991), Paula Creamer (2002), Grace Park (1994, 1996) and Morgan Pressel (2004).
In the Girls Division, over a par-72 course of 6,457yd, Chen's successful approach shots set her up for short birdie putts throughout her round. She holds a one-stoke lead at 4-under-par 68.
“I haven't made a cut in a while so that was my goal for this tournament,” Chen said. “I had five birdie putts under 12 feet and was able to capitalize.”
Casey Grice of College Station, Texas, sits in second at 3-under-par 69, while Madelene Sagstrom of Enkoping, Sweden, Nicole Zhang of Calgary, Alberta, and Simin Feng of Orlando, Fla., all share third with 2-under-par 70.

Former Irish girls champion Stephanie Meadow from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland and a student at the Hank Hainey International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is lying in joint sixth position on 71 in a field of top-ranked 78 players after sharing the nine-hole lead with an outward 34.

Stephanie, pictured above, has some "big" names behind her on the scoreboard - Laetitia Beck from Israel had a 74, "wonder girl" Alexis Thompson a 75 and Daniela Lendl a 77.

Monday and Tuesday at the Polo Golf Junior Classic are all about one thing: Finishing among the top 32 players and making match play.
While a high seed number is nice, match play is the goal. Case in point: Esther Choe made birdie in a stroke play play-off just to qualify for match play in 2006 at Sea Island Golf Club. She then ploughed her way through the bracket to win the championship.
On the other hand, Vicky Hurst won the 2007 Polo Golf Junior Classic from the pole position, earning the No. 1 seed, then running the match play gauntlet.

GIRLS' FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 72

68 Doris Chen 34-34.

69 Casey Grice 35-34.

70 Nicole Zang 345-35, Madelene Sagstrom (sweden) 35-35, Simin Feng 36-34.

71 Jessica Korda 36-35, Stephanie Meadow (NIr) 34-37, Kelly Shon 35-36.

Selected scores:

74 Laetitia Beck (Israel) 37-37.

75 Alexis Thompson 39-36.

77 Daniela Lendl 38-39.