Round 2 Recap

The Grayhawk Raptor Open got underway on Saturday in Scottsdale, AZ.  In the Boys 16-18 division, Jordan Epstein of Carlsbad, CA (2009) led all scores with a +2 (74).  He was one of only 2 players in this division to make an eagle on Saturday, his came on the 18th hole (his 9th hole of the event).  He had a one-stroke advantage over a foursome of players who began the final round tied for 2nd at 75: 

Raymond Gillip II of Las Vegas, NV (2009),

Joe Rosenthal of Malibu, CA (2009), H.J. Roberts of Albuquerque, NM (2008), and

Ryan Trujillo of Albuquerque, NM (2008).

On Sunday, Epstein fired a round of 2 under par 70 to finish at 144 and win his first FCWT event.  Epstein was matched in his Low Round effort by Raymond Gillip II who closed to within one stroke of Epstein when he made birdie on the 18th hole.  Gillip also led this division in birdies with 8 for the event.  The next best round of the day was a 71 which was posted by both Robbie Pitts of Eugene, OR (2008), who finished in 3rd place and Maxwell Scodro of Chicago, IL (2008), whose 71 moved him to T4 after his opening round kept him out of the Top 10. 

Troy Anderson of Paradise Valley, AZ (2008) also finished tied for 4th after starting tied for 6th with local player Mike Basco (2009).  Basco finished in sole possession of 6th place on Sunday.  Five players finished T7:  Ryan Trujillo of Albuquerque, NM (2008), Richie Kernagis of Mesa, AZ (2008), who began the day tied for 8th, Charley Cerchiai of Phoenix, AZ (2008), who finished with a round of 74 to move up the leaderboard, Joshua Granger of Monrovia, CA (2009), whose final round of 72 brought him from back in the pack to the Top 10 and Tad Murray of La Quinta, CA (2010), who also started the day tied for 8th.

On Saturday in the Boys 13-15 division, Evan Markley of Scottsdale, AZ (2011), playing in his first FCWT event, had a hole-in-one on #8, his second in his tournament career.  That eagle helped him to an opening round of 71 (-1) and a 2 stroke advantage heading into Sunday's final round.  On Sunday he posted a round of even par 72 and finished 7 shots ahead of the field to win his first event and earn an exemption to the National Championship in May.

David Lowe of Paradise Valley, AZ (2011), who led the division in birdies with 8, finished in a tie for 2nd place after winning at the ASU Open earlier this month. Austin Quick of Scottsdale, AZ (2011) carded a final round of 73 to move into a tie for 2nd place on Sunday.

Fourteen year old Zachary Wright of Phoenix, AZ (2012) finished in 4th place at 154 and Charlie von Arentschildt of Greenwich, CT (2010) finished 5th at 156.

Six boys teed it up on Saturday in the Boys 11-12 division and less than 10 shots separated them.  Randy Ross of Phoenix, AZ (2014) was leading after an opening round of 76.  Two strokes back was

Christopher Petefish of Danville, CA (2014) who had won twice already this season.  On Sunday, Petefish made it 3 wins as he carded a final round of 76, to finish at 154 for the event.  Ross took home 2nd place at 159 and eleven year old Gavin deFisser of Gilbert, AZ (2015), who co-led the field in pars with Petefish and Thomas Lehman Jr. of Scottsdale, AZ (2014), finished in 3rd place at 161.  Drew Langan of Winnetka, IL (2013) led the field in birdies with 6 and nine-year old Jake Chanen of Phoenix, AZ (2016) held his own with these older boys.  Good for you, Jake!

Senior Ashley McKenney of Scottsdale, AZ, carded rounds of 70-73 to win her 2nd event of the season - this time, in her hometown.  Miss McKenney, a 5th year FCWT player, fired a 2 under par opening round that gave her a 5 stroke advantage when she began Sunday's final round.  On Sunday she increased her stroke margin to 8 strokes as she held off two of the younger ladies and earned her second win of the season, those 2 wins coupled with her two other Top 3 finishes this year, make her a very strong candidate for the FCWT 1st Team All-American this season.

Lauren Salazar of Santa Clara, CA (2012) and

Paige Spiranac of Monument, CA (2011) finished tied for 2nd at 151.  This was Miss Salazar's best finish of the season so far.  Miss Spirinac has won already this season and this was her third Top 3 finish, making her a strong candidate for FCWT All-American status this season. FCWT newcomer Pamela Burneski of Surrey, BC, CANADA (2009) finished tied for 4th in her first FCWT event with Rebecca Schneider of Cave Creek, AZ (2009), who led this division in pars with 21 for the weekend.