Top-seeded Valdes advances at U.S. Junior Amateur

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SHOAL CREEK, Ala. (AP) -- Top-seeded Jorge Fernandez Valdes of Argentina won his second-round match and was joined by fellow Argentine Emiliano Grillo into the third round of the U.S. Junior Amateur championship at Shoal Creek.

The 15-year-old Fernandez Valdes never trailed in defeating 15-year-old Bobby Wyatt of Mobile, 3 and 2. Second-round play was completed Thursday morning and third-round play began Thursday afternoon.

Fernandez Valdes led all scorers in stroke play with a 36-hole total of 5-under 139 on the 7,251-yard course.

Grillo, also 15, took the lead for good with a par at the ninth hole and beat 17-year-old Bryden Macpherson of Australia, 4 and 2.

Tom Lovelady, a 15-year-old from Birmingham, took the last two holes of his match against 16-year-old Jordan Lee of Tarzana, Calif., to win 2-up.

The 36-hole championship final match is scheduled for Saturday.