Gordon Neale and Kristen Gillman lead after two rounds at Junior PGA

BRYAN, Texas – Kristen Gillman of Austin, Texas, extended her lead through 36 holes in the girls’ division, while Gordon Neale of Trabuco Canyon, California, grabbed the lead in the boys’ division on Wednesday at the 39th Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks.

Neale shot 7-under-par 64, which tied him for the lowest second-round score in the Junior PGA Championship, to take a two-stroke lead in the boys’ division over Sam Burns of Shreveport, La. The 64 ties Neale all-time with Miguel Cabrera-Bello of Spain, who first set the mark in 2004, and Jordan Spieth of Dallas, Texas, who matched it in 2008.

Gillman shot her second consecutive 66, to extend her lead to three strokes over Hannah O’Sullivan of Paradise Valley, Ariz., who shot 67. 

Gillman’s two-day total of 132 is the lowest 36-hole score in the history of the Junior PGA Championship. She surpassed the previous record of 133 shared by Joe Monte of Chantilly, Va., who first set the mark in 2005, and Chris DeForest of Cottekill, N.Y., who matched it in 2007.

The 72-hole Championship, being contested at Miramont Country Club, will feature a 54-hole cut to the low 30 boys and 30 girls, including ties, following the third round tomorrow.

In the boys’ division, Neale, who shot 73 in the opening round, made five straight birdies to start his second round, to get back into Championship contention.

“I had a two-putt birdie on the first hole, and the next thing I knew, I was 5-under through five holes,” said Neale, competing in his first Junior PGA Championship. “I had a bit of a rough patch with a bogey on the sixth, but I was able to hold the round together.” Neale birdied three of his last five holes, including the par-5 18th.

“I’m really pleased with how I played. It’s the best round I’ve had in a while,” said Neale. “My hot start was key. It took the stress off early. I put it in cruise control the last five or six holes and it was a nice way to finish the day.”

Burns, runner-up in the 2013 Junior PGA Championship, is one stroke ahead of Brad Dalke of Hobart, Okla. Dalke shot 70 and is alone in third.

“I struggled on my back nine today. I just wasn’t hitting it as solid as I did on the front,” said Burns, who had four of his five birdies on the front nine. “But overall, I’m happy to get in under par. This course is not playing easy for sure.”

Defending boys’ division champion Tyler McDaniel of Manchester, Ky., is tied for 9th, six strokes back of Neale.

In the girls’ division, Gillman continued her stellar play.

“I didn’t make as many mistakes in today’s round,” said Gillman. “I continued to hit the ball well again today and made the putts I needed to make.”

After holding a share of the 54-hole lead in the 2013 Junior PGA Championship, Gillman knows she will need to keep playing well to take home the Patty Berg Trophy on Friday afternoon.

“I’m just going to go out tomorrow and have fun and not worry about the position I’m in,” said Gillman, a rising high school senior who has verbally committed to play at the University of Alabama. “I just always love being in contention and having a chance to win.” 

O’Sulllivan, who finished ninth in the 2013 Junior PGA Championship, likes her position heading into the final 36 holes.

“I feel really good about my game right now. I’ve been playing well the last few weeks,” said O’Sullivan. “I just need to stay focused on my own game and I feel really comfortable going into the final two days.”

Samantha Wagner of Windermere, Fla., the lone member of the field who was on the winning 2012 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, shot 66 and is third, five strokes behind Gillman.

Ellen Takada of Irvine, Calif., shot 64, the low round of the Championship in the girls’ division.  She is tied for fourth with Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif.

Takada’s 64 is also tied for the low round ever in the history of the Championship in the girls’ division, matching Virada Nirapathpongporn of Thailand, who set the mark in 1999.

In addition to claiming the Patty Berg Trophy in the girls’ division and the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the boys’ division, the field of 156 players will be vying for an exemption to compete on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour in 2015.

The boys’ division champion this year will compete at the 2015 Valero Texas Open, March 26-29, at TPC San Antonio in Texas. The girls’ division champion this year will receive an exemption into the 2015 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, April 24-27, at Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco, Calif. The agreement was reached between the PGA of America, which conducts the Junior PGA Championship, the Valero Texas Open, and the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

In addition, the Junior PGA Championship will serve as the final qualifying event for the 2014 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which will face Europe, Sept. 22-23, at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire, Scotland. The champion and runner-up in both divisions automatically earn a spot on the U.S. team.