Michaela Morard tees off in Round 1

HUNTSVILLE, AL (June 27, 2017) - The Alabama Golf Association kicked off the first round of the 54th Alabama Girls State Junior Championship at Valley Hill Country Club in Huntsville, AL on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 (14-18 Age Division=5816 yards, par 36-36—72, 74.1/134; 12-13 Age Division=5387 yards, par 36-36—72 71.7/129; 9-11 Age Division=2226, 33.3/111). This is the first time that Valley Hill Country Club has hosted the Girls State Junior Amateur Championship. Micheala Williams of Athens won the title in 2016 at Bent Brook Golf Club.

Valley Hill Country Club member Michaela Morard fired a 4-under par 68 today to lead by three strokes over Karlee Allen of Berry.  Morard is seeking her second Alabama Girls State Junior title after winning the championship in 2015 at Heron Lakes Country Club, and finishing runner-up last year at Bent Brook Golf Club.

There are four age divisions 16-18, 14-15, 12-13 and 9-11.

Today’s leaders for each division are:

Overall Leader: Michaela Morard, Huntsville, AL

Michaela Morard of Huntsville (-4)    Age: 14-18

Jinger Heath of Decatur (+11)  Age: 12-13

Mary Davis Charles of Auburn (+12)  Age: 9-11

The Alabama Girls State Junior Championship is open to any female amateur who is a legal resident of Alabama, is a member in good standing of a club which a member of the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at an AGA member club and qualifies under the age requirements for this junior championship.

Starting Times and Scoring Website: https://www.ghintpp.com/bamagolf/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=356

This Championship is conducted by the Alabama Golf Association.

About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA)

The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of over 130 member clubs represented by nearly 18,500 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service.

AGA is the USGA's liaison for golf in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the USGA Handicap system including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating and education. The AGA annually conducts 12 championships and team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. The AGA also conducts Alabama high school golf championships and assists with many collegiate events including the SEC Men's Golf Championship. In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Women's Scholarship Fund that is dedicated to assisting young female golfers in higher education and supports the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation.

Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Southern Golf Association.

For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org.