The pace was supposed to be deliberate.

Plotting a career on the American Junior Golf Association circuit can be both time-consuming and expensive, traveling to tournaments all over the country, just to seek out exposure.

Not 14-year-old James Feutz, a talented but inexperienced teenager from University Place. He thought taking one slow step at a time was the way to go.

And then he did the unthinkable: He won his very first AJGA tournament in California.

Feutz's name is certainly out in the golfing circles, courtesy of his stellar performance in his maiden voyage last May. He closed with a tournament-best, 6-under-par 66 to tie 16-year-old Robbie Mamo, of Appley Valley, Calif., as co-winners of the AJGA's Golf World/Medicus Preseason Junior at The Westin Mission Hills Resort's Gary Player Signature Course.

This tournament specifically targets juniors interested in playing high-profile AJGA events down the line, giving golfers a taste of that type of touring.

Feutz, who plays out of Fircrest Golf Club, did more than just soak it in. He came from five strokes back after the first round to tie Mamo for the title.

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This week: Nationwide Tour's Players Cup, Thursday through Sunday, Pete Dye Golf Club, Bridgeport, W.Va.

Second-round score: 1-over-par 73.

Position: Putnam is tied for 50th (1-under 143), nine strokes behind leader Matt Bettencourt (134).

Recap: Certainly, the good news is the Tacoma native will earn some cash at the highest-paying tournament of the season. And he had to birdie the par-5 17th to make the cut. The bad news is he's not getting much scoring out of his superb ball-striking (missed just two of 28 fairways in two rounds).

Tee time Saturday: 7:17 a.m. PDT off the 10th tee.

This week: PGA Tour's John Deere Classic, Thursday through Sunday, TPC Deere, Silvis, Ill.

Second-round score: Even-par 71.

Position: Moore (3-under 139) is tied for 59th, 10 strokes behind Will MacKenzie (129).

Recap: An opening birdie, his first eagle (on the par-5 17th) since the third round of the Byron Nelson Championship in late April and another birdie to start his second nine (on the par-4 first) had Moore in the top 10 at 7-under. Then, he hit an improbable rough patch, making four consecutive bogeys (Nos. 4-7) to slump back, and out of contention. It was the first time he had a run of bogeys like that all season, and the last time he made four bogeys on one nine-hole side was the second round of the PODS Championship in March.

Tee time Saturday: 9:06 a.m. PDT off the 10th tee with Jerry Kelly and Chris Stroud.

This week: PGA Tour's John Deere Classic, Thursday through Sunday, TPC Deere, Silvis, Ill.

First-round score: 3-under-par 68.

Position: Moore is tied for 29th, four strokes behind co-leaders Ken Duke and Charlie Wi (64).

Recap: The Puyallup native salvaged the round with three back-nine birdies, after making a double bogey on the 11th hole where he hit trees off the tee, and took two shots to get out of rough. He made up for it with birdies at Nos. 14 and 17, and converted a 5-foot putt on the finishing hole for par.

Tee time Friday: 6:06 a.m. PDT off the 10th tee.