June 20, 2008

TUSCALOOSA - Bud Cauley remains atop the leader board and is at 11-under par going into the final round of the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup. The Jacksonville, Fla., native, who will be a freshman on the University of Alabama golf team this fall, is one of four golfers representing the USA at Chukyo Golf Club's Ishino Course in Toyota City, Japan. Junior golf's equivalent to professional golf's Ryder Cup, the event features four-man teams representing 16 countries. The final round of the 72-hole tournament is Saturday.

Cauley shot 4-under par, 67 in Friday's third round to remain in the lead after 54 holes. He shot 68-67-67/202 and is 11-under par and two shots ahead of Norway's Elias Berthessen who is 9-under par and in second place behind Cauley in the individual standings.

Despite Cauley's play, Team USA dropped a spot to sixth place among the 16 teams. Each round a different team has led. Norway overtook England to move into the top spot Friday. The Norwegian team is 21-under par (213-205-200/618) and is seven shots ahead of England (625). At third is defending champion Sweden (627), followed by two teams tied for fourth in Australia and Korea (627). The USA is sixth (211-209-208/628) at 11-under. Argentina and Denmark are both at 8-under (631) and tied at seventh. Japan is at even par (639), and then it's India (642), South Africa (644), New Zealand (645), Colombia (655), Mexico (666), Guatemala (668), and Kenya (681).

"I'm obviously disappointed to have a player in the lead and be in seventh place," said USA coach Brian White. "It shows some of the other players haven't stepped up. You can't putt that poorly and win a tournament."

In the individual standings for Team USA, Cauley is in first place, Gregor Main is T-12th (211) at 2-under, Wesley Graham is T-38th at 4-over and Cody Gribble is T-45th at 6-over par.

Fans can follow play in the tournament on the internet at www.wjgtc.org and gcaa.collegiategolf.com.