Peterson cards 73, tops local qualifier

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 2, 2005 | by STAFF REPORT

SAN RAMON -- Adam Peterson of Canby, Ore. shot a 1-over-par 73 to take Boys Division medalist honors at Thursday's Srixon Qualifier for the Fidelity Investments Junior Open at The Bridges Golf Course.

In the Girls Division, Joy Kim of Pinole and Lee Lopez of Whittier fired even-par 72s to share medalist honors.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Fidelity Investments Junior Open is a 54-hole stroke play which runs Saturday through Monday.

The Srixon Qualifier featured 80 boys and 18 girls, ages 12-18, from nine states and Canada. Peterson, 17, said the key to his solid round was consistently hitting fairways and greens on the narrow course.

"I hit a lot more fairways than I expected to, and that helped keep my score low," Peterson said.

Even when Peterson made mistakes off the tee, the other parts of his game were working. On the par-4 ninth hole, he hit a poor drive into the rough, which left him 180 yards from the green. Despite a difficult downhill lie, Peterson nailed his approach shot to a foot from the flagstick and tapped in for birdie.

This is the first time Peterson has qualified for an AJGA event.

Also qualifying were John Lim of Torrance, John Sanjuan of Garden Grove, Luke Scott of Reno, Boz Bascou of Woodbridge, Bradley Wyatt of La Verne, Robbie Ziegler of Canby, Ore., Christopher Lee of Los Angeles, Andrew Slusser of Newport Coast, Jeffrey Hamm of Danville, Christopher Mathews of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Justin Lee of Tarzana.

In the Girls Division, Kim was pleased with her consistent round of even par, which featured a 34 on the front nine and a 36 on the back side. Kim felt that her entire game was working well, and she concentrated on hitting the tight fairways and avoiding trouble spots.

"I was just trying to hit good shots and not worry too much," Kim said. "I felt really good out there and I'm excited to play this weekend."

The highlight of Kim's round came on the par-4 second hole, where she hit a solid tee shot and hit her approach 20 feet from the flagstick. She made the putt for birdie, which got her momentum going for the rest of the round. Lopez got off to a solid start on the par-4 No. 16, her first hole of the day.

She put her drive in the fairway and hit a solid approach to 10 feet from the flagstick. Lopez nailed the putt for birdie, her first of the day, which gave her a boost of confidence.

"Starting off with a birdie helped a lot," Lopez said. "It gave me a cushion and helped me believe I could handle the course."

Stephanie Arcala of Oceanside qualified with an 8-over-par 80. Robin Lee of Camarillo and Christina Hirano of Pinole also qualified, but opted to take an AJGA Tournament Exemption in lieu of playing in this week's event.