Seventeen year old senior Daniel Mollicone of East Greenwich, RI, demonstrated that golf is about the little things. On Saturday, what separated Mollicone from first round leader Kyle Thomas of Fishers, IN (2006) was a triple-bogey "7" on the 2nd hole. So while Thomas signed for a 73 on Saturday, Mollicone was a stroke back with a 74. On Sunday, Mollicone, playing in the last group of the day, made four bogeys on the back nine, including 17 and 18, but still managed to finish 1 stroke ahead of senior Cole Turner of Marion, IN (who finished 6th at this event last season). Mollicone's victory earns him an exemption to the FCWT National Championship. After starting the day in a tie for 5th at +5, Barrett Kelpin, Kalamazoo, MI (2008) finished all alone in 3rd place. The 16 year old 6 footer finished 2 strokes ahead of junior Anthony Novak of Michigan City, IN. Overnight leader Kyle Thomas of Fishers, IN (2006) finished T5 with Kelly Kretz of Antigo, WI (2007). Ben Freeman of Fargo, IN (2007) carded the low round of the day with a 74, 9 strokes better than his opening round.
In the Boys 13-15 division, fifteen year old David James of Warren, MI, 2008, posted a 2 over par round of 73 to take the lead on Saturday and never looked back. On Sunday, James followed up with a round of 74 and managed to hold off hard-charging thirteen year old Al Jennings III of Fort Wayne, IN (2010). Jennings began Sunday's round 5 strokes back of James and one stroke ahead of Richard Lamb of South Bend, IN (2009). His final round of 71 even par, earned him low round honors and allowed him to finish just 2 strokes back of James. Adam Sumrall, South Bend, IN, 2009 and Jordan McMahon, Brockville, ON, CANADA, 2008 were able to catch up with Lamb to finish in a 3-way tie for third. Ten year old Austin Rendell of Winnetka, IL (2013), led wire to wire in the 12 and under division. The 4' 10" 5th grader held his own against twelve year old Nathaniel Meyer of Cincinnati, OH (2011). The course was in great shape; the greens are hard and fast. The weather was cool and windy, but warmer than the last several years at this event.
On Saturday, sixteen year old Aimee Neff of Carmel, IN, fired an opening round of even par to lead the Girls Division of the Fighting Irish Jr. Golf Classic. Neff, a junior, and currently ranked #82 in the Golfweek/Titleist rankings, had 5 birdies on the day. Aimee had only one nemesis hole on Saturday, number 16 which gave up NO birdies in the Girls division. Sixteen year old Ellen Mueller of Evansville, IN (2007), is in second place after a round of +5 76. Ellen had a good round for the girls, she had it to 2 under on her front nine, but gave it all back closing the back 9. On Sunday, Aimee couldn't find those birdies that she was posting on Saturday, and Mueller came charging. At the end of 36 holes the ladies were tied. Neff, who lost to Morgan Pressel in the 2005 U.S. Girls Junior Championship match play, found a way to win in the playoff and thus earned her first FCWT title. Senior Bethany Leclair from Scottsdale, AZ, finished in 3rd place after shaving 6 shots off her round score. |
