The girls division at the Mystic Dunes Open will begin the final round with co-leaders. Karen Chung of Livingston, NJ (2013) and Isabelle Lendl of Bradenton, FL (2009) both opened with rounds of even par on Saturday. Both ladies had 2 birdies and 2 bogeys during their round. Twelve-year old Karen, a third year player, will be looking for her first FCWT win at the 13-18 level. Sixteen year old Isabelle, who already won once this season at the World Golf Village in November, played the FCWT Girls 13-18 division as a 12 year old, and came very close to winning.
On Sunday the co-leaders will be paired with Ginger Howard of Bradenton, FL (2012), who led this division in pars with 15 on Saturday. Miss Howard is currently tied for 3rd with Christina Miller of Bradenton (2010) and Andrea Watts also of Bradenton (2008). Miss Watts has already won this season at Naples and won 4 times last season including the Girls National Championship. Miss Miller, who won last season and finished runner-up to Miss Watts at the National Championship last season, can go low so she can't be counted out. Fifteen year old Victoria Kiser of Orlando, FL (2010) will start in 6th place at 73. Miss Kiser has won all three events she has played this season, so don't count her out as she is only 2 strokes back. And one of our co-leaders knows better than to count out our 7th place player. Marika Lendl (2008), Isabelle's older sister, may be starting in 7th, but don't count on her finishing there. She is only 3 strokes back and can easily overcome that margin. The other half of our second sister duo, Miss Allie Kiser of Orlando (2011) is only 4 strokes back of our leaders and will start in 8th.
Ninety-players teed off for the first round of the Mystic Dunes Open under a partly cloudy day in central Florida. With temperatures in the 80s it was a lovely day for golf.
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Senior Stanislav Matus of the Czech Republic is looking for his 2nd win of the season. Matus, who won the World Woods event in October, carded the only sub-par round in the Boys 16-18 division on Saturday to lead the field by one stroke. He will be paired with Marcel Puyat of the PHILIPPINES (2011) and Kyle Kopsick of Lake Bluff, IL (2008) for the final round. The 14 year old Puyat is really starting to put all aspects of his game together and becoming a formidable competitor. Kopsick, an FCWT veteran, can be counted on to consistently finish in the Top 10. He'd love a win on Sunday - an early Christmas present to himself!
Two strokes back of Puyat and Kopsick, there are two threesomes tied for 4th at 73. They are: Rocky Khara of Sebring, FL (2010), Zachary Bates of Chagrin Falls, OH (2009), who led this division in birdies with 5, Devin Patel of Celebration, FL (2008), Grant Gaugler III of Bradenton, FL (2008), who tied Puyat and Benjamin Murray (T11) for the most pars on Saturday with 14, Michael Ferranolo of Wellington, FL (2008), and Luke Benford of Hampshire, ENGLAND (2008). Trent Hillis of Poplar Bluff, MO (2010) will start in 10th place, but only 4 strokes back of our leader. Four players are tied for 11th at 75, still within 5 strokes of the lead.
In the Boys 13-15 division Oliver Vaidis of Bradenton, FL (2012) and Brandon Baerwaldt of Bradenton, FL (2010) are co-leading at 74 after one round of play. Both will be looking for their first win on Sunday. In addition to competing with each other, they will have some strong competition behind them. Alex Ceravolo of Palm Beach Gardens, FL (2011) is only one stroke back at 75. Jason Zhou of Lake Mary, FL (2011), who led this division in birdies with 4 on Saturday, will begin in 4th place at 77. Alex's twin brother Matthew cannot be counted out. He can go low and will start at 78, just 4 shots back of the leaders and in 5th.
Ten year old Terrance Zhang of Vancouver, CANADA (2015) has taken the first round lead in the Boys 11-12 division. Zhang, a second year player, opened with a round of 78 on Saturday and will have a 2 stroke advantage over Corey Carlson of Greencovesprings, FL (2015) going into Sunday's final round. Zhang, who led this division in pars with 12, won last season at the University of Florida event and Carlson already has a win this season from the TPC Tampa Bay event. Eleven year old Osama Khan of BARBADOS (2012) will start the final round in 3rd place after an opening round of 85. |
