The University of Florida Open at the newly renamed Mark Bostick Golf Course at The University of Florida began on Saturday with warm temperatures (in the 80s) under partly cloudy skies. Many of the out-of-state players were happy for a respite from the bitter cold that has been affecting much of the country.
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Doris Chen of Bradenton, FL (2011) lit up the Mark Bostick Golf Course at The University of Florida with an opening round of 3 under par 67 to lead all scores. Fourteen year old Chen is a third year FCWT player who won twice last season and was named a first team FCWT All-American. On Saturday she demonstrated some of that "All-American" talent when she carded a bogey-free round with 3 birdies and led the division in pars with 15. Despite her outstanding opening round, she only has a one-stroke advantage over
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Lauren Cate of St. Augustine, FL (2008). Miss Cate, who led this division in birdies with 5, carded a 68 and will start 5 strokes in front of 3rd place. She may be the only one who can "catch" Doris on Sunday.
Miss Louise Yi of Cinnaminson, NJ (2009), playing in her first FCWT event, will start in third place after an opening round of 73. Just one stroke back of Miss Yi are seasoned player Miss Leslie Choucard of FRANCE (2008) and Aurelie Wiriath of Fort Lauderdale, FL (2008), playing in her first FCWT event. Three ladies are tied for 6th at 75: Brighid Hourihan of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (2009), Nicole Boyett of Gainesville, FL (2009), and Lauren Benetti of Celebration, FL (2008).
In the Boys 13-18 division, Greg Carrier of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (2009) led all scores with an opening round of even par 70. Carrier, along with several other players, carded 3 birdies on the day. A third year player, playing in his first event of the season, Greg will be going for his first win at the older level. He will have to hold off several players, including one from the 13-15 division. Ryan Grassel of Chesterton, IN (2010) is only 2 strokes back of Carrier and currently tied for 2nd place. The 15 year old Grassel posted the best score among the 13-15 division players on Saturday. He will start the final round tied at 72 with Ryan Wilson of Bradenton, FL (2009), Jordan Rizzo of Sarasota, FL (2009), and Drew Mathews of Ft. Lauderdale, FL (2008). Andrew Shier of Burlington, ON, CANDA and Craig Stevenson of Sarasota, FL (2008) will start the final round tied for 6th at 73. Stevenson tied Wilson for the most pars on Saturday with 15 apiece. Three players carded a round of 74 on Saturday and will begin the final round tied for 8th: Joshua Eure of Crofton, MD (2009), John Boehme of Jacksonville, FL (2012), and Ryan Black of Port St. Lucie, FL (2008). Austin Barreras of Peachtree City, GA (2010) will start in 11th place, just 5 strokes back of our leader. James Yoon of Asuncion, PARAGUAY (2012) is currently tied for 11th overall at 76, but is 2nd among the 13-15 division players. Scott Smyers of Lakeland, FL (2010) and Nick Dennis of Waterford, MI (2011) carded the 3rd best score among the 13-15 division players with opening rounds of 79. They are currently T23 overall.
In the Boys 11-12 division, Kristian Perry of Boca Raton, FL (2015) led all scores with an opening round of 75. Perry carded 11 pars on Saturday that helped to give him a 3 stroke lead heading into Sunday's final round. Charles Pardial of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (2014) led this division in birdies with 2 and will start in 2nd place on Sunday. Twelve year old C.J. Wagner of Easton, PA (2013) will start in 3rd after an opening round of 80 - just 5 strokes back of Perry. |
