Junior Steve Ziegler of Broomfield, CO, fired a 4 under par 68 on Saturday to open the FCWT Sun Devil Jr. Golf Classic. Ziegler, who finished 3rd at the FCWT Ridge at Castle Pines in October, carded 7 birdies on the day - a perfect day for golf. Ziegler will enter the final round with a 2 shot lead over Mike Greene, a senior from Overland Park, KS. Greene has had a busy fall on the FCWT, and has put himself in contention entering the final round. His only bogey on the day was on #1 coupled with 3 birdies he finished at 2 under par 70 on Saturday. A pack of players is in a tie for 3rd at one under par (71). Connor Alan-Lee of Solano, Beach, CA (2007): Spencer Anderson of Pacific Palisades, CA (2008); Austyn Karle of Scottsdale, AZ (2007); Jack Paton of Hillsborough, CA (2007); Tyler Smith of San Juan Capistrano, CA (2006); Chase Yacko of Toledo, OH (2007); and senior Trevor Carle of Santa Rosa, CA. Another group came in at even par on the day (72): Paul Berry of Steamboat Springs, CO; Michael Casca of Camarillo, CA; Michael Garden of Scottsdale, AZ: Ryan Hoskins of Scottsdale, AZ; Billy McKay of Grand Rapids, MI; Brad Nicholson of Chandler, AZ: Chase Hite of Tucson, AZ; and David Hahn of Henderson, NV. Twenty-five players are within 5 strokes of the leader. Everyone will need to bring their "A" game on Sunday.
In the Boys 13-15 division, Al Jennings III of Fort Wayne, IN (2010), is leading going into Sunday's final round. Jennings, who has two 2nd place finishes already this season, will start the final round with a one stroke lead over Trent Sanders. Sanders, from Scottsdale, AZ, has been selected along with Ryan Blair to represent the US in a match play competition which will coincide with the ASU Jr. Golf Classic next month. Thirteen year old Jennings had 7 birdies on the day, the same number as the 16-18 leader Ziegler. Both young men led their divisions in birdies for the round. Sanders, who finished 7th at this event last year, is looking to earn his own win. He and Jennings will be partnered with 13 year old Tad Murray of La Quinta, CA. Murray comes from a family of golfers. His older brother Benjamin had 2 FCWT wins last season and finished in the Top 20 at the 2005 FCWT Boys 16-18 National Championship as a 15 year old. Four players are T4 at +2 (74): Ryan Blair, Eduardo Chavez, Brian O'Regan, and Cody Kent.
In the Boys 11-12 division, 12 year old Zachary Wright of Phoenix, AZ, fired a round of two under par to lead Austin Quick and David Lowe both of Scottsdale, AZ going into the final round. Wright made 3 birdies in a row on #2, 3, and 4 (part of his back nine). |
