Plantation produces several first-time champions
Andres Echavarria, a senior from COLOMBIA, fired a bogey-free round of 3 under par on Saturday to open the Plantation Jr. Golf Classic. Echavarria had his "A" game going for the college scouts in attendance as he put himself in 2nd place heading into the final round. He didn't disappoint himself or any scouts on Sunday when he won his first FCWT event of the season. Echavarria, who is currently ranked 15th in the Golfweek/Titlelist rankings, posted a round of even par on Sunday to win by two strokes over Bayhaan Lakdawala of Dubai, UAE (2006). Lakdawala, who finished T8 last week on the West Coast at Turkey Creek, earned his highest finish of the season (2nd) and his third Top 10. In addition to the 2nd place honors, Bayhaan took home the Low Round Honors with the only sub-par round on Sunday in this division (1 under par 71). Jhared Hack of Heathrow, FL (2007), who has had the Midas touch of late - winning 3 in a row: Innisbrook, Saddlebrook and Wedgefield, took home the 3rd place award after carding rounds of 70-75-145.
Finishing tied for third were senior Adam Long of St. Louis, MO, and senior John Murphy of Milton, CT, who was in early on Saturday with a round of 2 under par 70. John's round included 6 birdies and a back nine, 3 under par. On Sunday, Murphy carded a 76 that included an eagle on # 4. Former Plantation Champion and FCWT All-American Adam Long of St. Louis, MO, fired the Low Round of 68 on Saturday to be the overnight leader. Long, a future Blue Devil (Duke), posted a final round of 78 that earned him his third Top 5 at this event in as many years, including a win in 2003-04 and T3 last season.
So-Hyun Park earns first FCWT victory of the season; Dakoda Dowd - one step closer to her dream!
So-Hyun Park of Bradenton, FL (2007) came from a tie for 3rd to win her first FCWT event of the season. Miss Park, a 3 year veteran of the FCWT, has earned a win each season. So-Hyun, currently ranked 33rd in the Golfweek/Titleist rankings, also has a 2nd place finish at the FCWT Saddlebrook event. After opening on Saturday with a round of +4 76, Miss Park carded the LOW ROUND in this division on Sunday to take home two awards.
Meghna Bal of Wesley Chapel, FL, carded an opening round of 2 over par on Saturday to have a one stroke lead over Dakoda Dowd heading into Sunday's final round. Miss Bal , earned her third 2nd place finish this season, by finishing tied with twelve year old Dowd of Palm Harbor, FL, (2012). Miss Dowd carded a 3 over par round of 75 on Saturday and began the final round in second place. This was Dakoda's second Top 3 finish of the season, but in Dakoda's world, life is about living each day to the fullest. She has a dream of playing professional golf with her parents looking on, but her mother's battle with cancer has cast a shadow over that dream. However, in April, Dakoda will be given a chance to live that dream at the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open, an LPGA event, on April 27-30 in Orlando.
Innapha Tantanavivat of THAILAND, the winner at Saddlebrook, began the day in 6th place after an opening round of 77, but an EAGLE on the par 5 4th hole helped her to finish T4 with Elizabeth Herzfeld of Brussels, BELGIUM.
In the Girls 13 and under division, Cindy Tang (2014) earned her third FCWT win of the season with Simin Feng (2013) finishing in second.
In the Boys 13-15 division Chad Fleming of Seminole, FL (2008) won by one stroke over Mickey Chan of Bradenton, FL (2009). Fleming who opened with a 2 under par round of 70 on Saturday, struggled on Sunday posting a 79 which was just enough to finish ahead of Chan. Finishing in a tie for third were: William Sjaichudin of AUSTRALIA (2010) and Hugh Lindstrom of Wesley Chapel, FL (2008) at 151. Richard Werenski of South Hadley, MA (2010) finished in 5th place with rounds of 73-81-154.
