Round 1 Recap

The first round of the Bobcat Trail produced a tight race in the Girls 13-18 division.

 Jessica Korda of Bradenton, FL (2011) and

 Ginger Howard, also of Bradenton (2012), are co-leading after carding rounds of 1 over par.  Jessica, who is playing in her 2nd event of the season, led the division in birdies with 4.  Miss Howard is playing in her 4th event of the season and carded 3 birdies for her round of 72.  She already has two top 3 finishes this season, but will be looking for the win on Sunday. 

Two young ladies are tied for 3rd, three strokes back of the co-leaders. 

Erin Sharpee of Green Bay, WI (2009) and Kristen Warhurst of Mobile, AL (2008) are both at 75 and are solid players:  Miss Sharpee has a 2nd place finish already this season and Miss Warhurst has a 3rd, so the leaders have their work cut out for them.  Jennifer Neville of Bradenton, FL (2009), who carded 14 pars on the day to co-lead that category with Miss Sealy (currently T9), will start the final round tied for 5th  at 76 with three other players:  Lauren Benetti of Celebration, FL (2008), Tiffany Cheung of Bradenton, FL (2008) and Crystal Smith of Venice, FL (2009).

In the 14 and under division, Nelly Korda of Bradenton, FL (2016), took the first round lead in her first FCWT event.  Nine-year old Nelly carded a round of 86 that included 8 pars, leading every statistical category except par 5 performance which was led by Stephaine Liu of St. Albans, MO (2015), who is currently in 2nd place.  Sofia Molinaro of ITALY is currently 3rd.

Cyril is not sulking

The first round of the Bobcat Trail Open saw 15-year old Cyril Suk of Bradenton, FL (2011) fire a bogey-free round of 5 under par 66 that included an eagle on 17.  Suk has two top 10s so far this season, but will be looking for his first win on Sunday.  He leads another

15-year old Zachary Balit of Montreal, CANADA (2010) by 2 strokes.  Balit carded 15 pars on the day to lead this division.  His round of 3 under par 68 puts him midway between the leader Suk and

 Michael Murray of White Lake, MI (2008), who is currently in 3rd after an opening round of 70.  Murray carded an eagle on the par 5 6th hole to help him get to 1 under par.  Two players are currently tied for 4th at 72 (+1): 

Troy Henderson of Bradenton, FL (2009) and

 Shang Zhi of Bradenton, FL (2009).

In the Boys 13-15 division, Austin Wilson of Eden Prairie, MN (2011) has a 6 stroke lead after opening with a round of 1 under par.  Wilson led the division in birdies with 4.  Starting in 2nd place on Sunday will be

Kevin Liu of St. Albans, MO (2012).  Liu's round of 76 puts him one stroke ahead of

Zachary Bonynge of Sarasota, FL (2011) who led this division in pars with 12 on Saturday.