The Westchase Classic was played under partly cloudy skies, but after over 6 inches of rain on Thursday, partly cloudy was an improvement. Temperatures were in the 80s for most of Saturday’s round. In the Boys 16-18 division, two players carded rounds of 2 under par 70 to co-lead heading into Sunday’s final round. Nico Irrgang of Bavaria, GERMANY (2008) ,who led this division in birdies with 7, and Luis Thiele of Curitiba, BRAZIL (2008) will share the lead as they begin the final round of play. They will be paired with 15 year old Oscar Sharpe of Cheltenham, ENGLAND (2010) who won at Tampa Bay a month ago. Sharpe is just one stroke back of the leaders after a nearly all-par day, with the exception of a birdie on 18, leading the division in pars with 17. Five players are tied for 4th at 72: Namsub Padungsirireth of North Augusta, SC (2009), Michael Montgomery of Daufuskie Island (2009), Carson Weinand of Naples, FL (2009), Tae Lim of Seoul, KOREA (2009), and Blake Waller of West Des Moines, IA (2010). Three players will start tied for 9th at 73 (+1): David James of Warren, MI (2008), Steven Loer of Sarasota, FL (2008) and Clark Gates-George of Bradenton, FL (2008). Loer, along with Thiele, carded the only eagles on the day.
Guilia Molinaro of Torino, ITALY (2008) fired a 3 under par 69 to lead the Girls 13-18 division of the Westchase Classic. Miss Molinaro, who won the Doral Silver event and the IMG Championship last season – making her a first team FCWT All-American, is playing in her first event of this season. Miss Molinaro led this division in birdies with 4 on Saturday. Two players are tied for 2nd at 73 (+1), including Kristen Warhurst of Mobile, AL (2008), who led this division in pars with 14. Tied with Miss Warhurst is 14 year old Monifa Sealy of TRINIDAD (2011), who carded the only eagle of the day in this division. Kimberly Carpenter of Tampa, FL (2009) will start the final round in 4th place after opening with a round of 75. Caramia Sitompul of Jakarta, INDONESIA (2009) and Catherine O’Donnell of Ponte Vedra, FL (2008) will begin Sunday’s round tied for 5th at 76.
In the Boys 13-15 division, there is a battle brewing. Three young men are currently tied for the lead at 73: Meechai Padungsiriseth of Bangkok (2011), Robert Smith of Osteen, FL (2010), and Patrick Rodgers of Avon, IN (2011), who has been in the “thick” of things in every tournament he has played so far this season. To make matters even more interesting, Harry Higgs of Overland Park, KS (2010), who tied Padungisriseth for the most birdies on Saturday with 3, and Blake Morris of Waterbury, CT (2011), who led this division in pars, are tied for 4th – only one shot back of the leaders and both of them have already won events this season. Additionally, Parker Sheppard of Fortville, IN (2010) is only 2 strokes back of the leaders after opening with a 75. Sunday should be a great showdown ~ stay tuned.
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