Cohn takes two stroke lead into final round

After playing in the Las Vegas Founders' Legacy Junior Golf Tournament in 1996 and '97, Matthew Cohn fully intended to return to the annual event last summer.

Things just didn't work out exactly as the San Diego native had planned.

"I wanted to play here last year, but my father forgot to sign my application," Cohn said.

So this time, the Cohn family made sure it did everything by the book. So far, they're awfully glad they did.

After following up Tuesday's seven-under-par 65 with a 70 on Wednesday, Cohn will take a two stroke-lead into today's final round.

Cohn, who came within one shot of breaking the tournament record on day one, got off to a good start Wednesday when he birdied the first hole. From there, he proceeded to shoot 37 on the front nine and a sparkling 33 on the back side.

"I'm trying to take a different kind of attitude on to the golf course," said Cohn, who has never finished better than fourth at an American Junior Golf Association (APGA) event. "I used to get very stressed out, so I'm trying to relax more and have a little bit more fun."

Cohn knows he'll need to continue to play that way to hold off the players chasing him, including Idaho's Sean Deacon, who is just two strokes back after posting the day's low round of 66.

"I know there are a bunch of guys behind me who can shoot a 65 like I did (on Tuesday)," Cohn said.

Included in that group is local entry Randy Creighton, tied for third with California's John Lebak, four strokes behind Cohn.

Creighton, a 17-year-old junior-to-be at Durango High School, rebounded from an even-par 72 on Tuesday to fire a 67 Wednesday.

"I've come back from nine shots before, so I'm not disappointed with the position I'm in," said Creighton, who shot a tournament-low 31 on the back side. "I feel I can play better than I did today, and that's why I'm not afraid of being four strokes back."

Creighton, who has hit 31 of 36 greens in regulation, attributed his success Wednesday to some putting advice he received before his round from a pro at the Legacy Golf Club.

"I putted terribly yesterday," Creighton said. "I played a lot more aggressively around the greens today."

Defending champion Michael Beard is five strokes back while Green Valley graduate Dallas Massey also kept the leaders in sight, shooting 72 to remain seven strokes behind Cohn.

On the girls side, Colorado's Nancy Abiecunas continued to be the story, moving five strokes ahead of the field with a round of 68 Wednesday.

Green Valley's Mary Jan Fernandez stayed in the hunt with a 69 in round two. She sits in third place, six shots behind Abiecunas.

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