| Senior John Murphy of Milton, CT (T3), who carded the Low Round on Sunday at Saddlebrook, was in early at Plantation with a round of 2 under par 70. John's round included 6 birdies and a back nine, 3 under par. That score held until former Plantation Champion and FCWT All-American Adam Long of St. Louis, MO, arrived at the scorer's table with a 4 under par 68. Last season, Long finished T3 at this event, but in 2003-04 he walked away with the title after rounds of 73-70-140. Long, a senior headed for Duke University, would like to repeat his title-winning performance this year. He will have to hold off Murphy as well as Andres Echavarria, who fired a bogey-free round of 3 under par. Echavarria, a senior from COLOMBIA, had his "A" game going for the college scouts in attendance as he put himself in 2nd place heading into the final round. Long will need to keep his "A" game going to hold off the Jhared Hack of Heathrow, FL (T3), who has had the Midas touch of late - winning 3 in a row: Innisbrook, Saddlebrook and Wedgefield. He also previously won at Grand Cypress in December. Hack's round of 2 under par on Saturday included 1 of 2 eagles posted in this division. Tyler Johannsen of Naples, FL, carded the other. Three players are at even par, 72 and T5: Ryan Crum of South Salem, NY (2007), Bayhaan Lakdawala of Dubai, UAE (2006) and Max Jones of Belleville, MI. Last year's Champion of this event, Kevin Kring of Springfield, MO (2008) opened with a 75 (T14). In the Boys 13-15 division, Chad Fleming of Seminole, FL (2008), fired an opening round of 2 under par 70 to take the lead by two strokes over Mickey Chan of Bradenton, FL (2009), who opened with a round of even par. Kevin Benstead of Boxford, MA (2008) and Richard Werenski of South Hadley, MA (2010) are T3 at 73, 1 over par. ZeYu He of Shen Zhen, CHINA (2009) and Hugh Lindstrom of Wesley Chapel, FL (2008) are T5 at 75 (+3). In the Boys 11-12 division, Tanapol Vattanapisit of Rayong, THAILAND (2012) leads Jason Hak of Beijing, CHINA (2012) by 3 strokes. Vattanapisit opened with a round of 72 even par, while Hak posted a 75. Michael Werenski of South Hadley, MA (2012) is currently in third place. Senior Meghna Bal of Wesley Chapel, FL, carded an opening round of 2 over par at the Plantation Inn Jr. Golf Classic to have a one stroke lead over Dakoda Dowd heading into Sunday's final round. Miss Bal , who has two 2nd place finishes this season, carded 3 birdies on her way to 74. Twelve year old Dowd of Palm Harbor, FL, (2012), carded a 3 over par round of 75 including a birdie on 18. Just one stroke back of Dowd at +4 (76) are: Elizabeth Herzfeld of Brussels, BELGIUM; Brianna Seo of KOREA, who tied for 2nd at Mission Inn, and So-Hyun Park of Bradenton, FL (2007), who finished 2nd at Saddlebrook. Innapha Tantanavivat of THAILAND, the winner at Saddlebrook, is currently in 6th place at 77, 3 strokes back of Miss Bal. The Meiers sisters, Amy (2009) and Christine (2010) from Rochester Hills, MI, are tied for 7th after both posting rounds of +6, 78. In the Girls 13 and under division, Yueer Tang (2014) leads Simin Feng (2013) after opening with a round of +4, 76. |
