Brittany Henderson Extends Lead at Mizuno CJGA National Golf Championship

August 16, 2006

Barrie, Ont. - A sparkling round of 70 (-2) from defending champion Brittany Henderson highlighted what was an interesting moving day at the Mizuno CJGA National Golf Championship presented by HSBC Bank Canada. All division leaders maintained their positions under ideal scoring conditions in what is shaping up to be an exciting final round on Thursday. 

Henderson, 15, of Smiths Falls, Ont., pulled away from first round leader Rebecca Lee-Bentham on Wednesday in posting the tournament low score. She leads by nine strokes. “It feels really good to have to lowest score,” says Henderson. “I didn’t start out that well but I came back and made a lot of birdies.” Lee-Bentham, 14, of Richmond Hill, Ont. posted a 79 (+7) while local golfer and CJGA Team Canada member, Jacqueline Yanch, 17, carded an impressive round of 73 (+1) to move up to third.

Lucas Kim, 12, of Etobicoke, Ont. punctuated his third round with an ace on the par-three 13th hole in firing a round of even-par 72 to extend his lead to ten strokes over Richard Jung, 13, of North York, Ont. “It was great!” exclaimed the Etobicoke, Ont. resident about his hole-in-one. “I was really lucky on the course today. I feel more relaxed now that I have the lead, but I still have to stay focused for tomorrow.” Kristopher Kowalchuk, 12, of Burlington, Ont. fired a 75 (+3) and sits in third spot in the Boys 13 & Under Division.

The Boys 17 - 19 Division is shaping up to be the closest division race as leader Andrew Funk, 17, of Edmonton, Alta. leads Courtice, Ont. resident Tim Lew, 18, by a single stroke. Funk and Lew both fired a 74 on Wednesday to separate themselves from the pack. “I felt some pressure coming into the competition after winning my division last year,” commented Funk, who made two eagles on the day. “But I’ve played well so far.”  Adam Petrasovic, 17, of Tecumseh, Ont. is seven strokes back of the leader at 229 (+13).  Defending champion Ryan Corbin, 18, of Niagara Falls, Ont. posted a disappointing round of 81 (+9) to fall back.

Also separating from the pack today was 16-year-old Michael Gligic, of Burlington, Ont. Gligic carded an even-par round of 72 to add four-strokes to his lead in the Boys 14 - 16 Division. Justin Shin, 14, of Richmond Hill was also even after the day and sits in second at 233 (+17), six shots back of Gligic. Toronto residents Andrew Horrocks, 16, and Russell Budd, 15, are tied for third at 239 (+23).

Tee-times for the final round of the event will get underway at 7:50 a.m. from the first tee.