Georgiana Salant of Encinitas, CA (2010) carded a one over par 74 on Saturday to lead the Girls 13-18 division of the La Costa Classic. Miss Salant, 15, is a second year FCWT player who will be looking for her first FCWT win on Sunday when she is paired with Daniela Lendl of Bradenton, FL (2011) and Maria Piccio of the PHILIPPINES (2009) who are currently tied for 2nd at 77. Miss Lendl is a 4th year FCWT player who will be looking for her first 13-18 division win on Sunday. Miss Piccio is a first year FCWT player who won the World Woods Open in October. Mackinzie Kline of Encinitas, CA (2010), who finished 3rd in this event last season and finished T2 in January at PGA West, and Monifa Sealy of TRINIDAD (2011), who won at Orange Lake in January, will start the final round tied for 4th at 78. Miss Kline led this division in pars with 14, while Miss Salant and Miss Villareal, currently tied for 6th with Amanda Ong of SINGAPORE (2010), each carded 3 birdies on Saturday. Jackie Chang of Paradise Valley, AZ (2010) will start in 8th place at 80 and Aubrie Nelson of Edina, MN (2010), will start in 9th place. Miss Nelson carded the only eagle in this division on Saturday on the par 5 7th hole.
Close at La Costa
The Boys 16-18 division at the La Costa Classic is a tightly contested battle. While many are waiting for Super Sunday, it was a Super Saturday in Carlsbad, CA. Fifty-four boys teed off in the Boys 16-18 division on Saturday morning and at the end of the round, three were tied for the lead at 2 under par.
First year FCWT player Mario Clemens of Beverly Hills, CA (2009) carded 4 birdies and 2 bogeys on his way to 2 under par. Clemens has two previous top 5s this season but will be looking for his first trip to the winner's circle on Sunday. Senior Jens Bracht of Lake Forest Park, WA, carded 5 birdies on Saturday (matched only by Miles Cole - currently tied for 8th) to put himself in a tie for the lead. Bracht is a third year FCWT player who had three top 10s last season. Rounding out the threesome of leaders is Namsub Padungsiriseth of North Augusta, SC (2009). Namsub, whose brother is playing at Mission Inn this weekend, had 4 birdies on the La Costa North Course and will be trying for his first win on Sunday as well. Johnny Henno of Solvang, CA (2009) is playing in his first FCWT event. His round of one under par 71 puts him in a tie with FCWT veteran Tyler Weworski of Carlsbad, CA (2009) who will be playing golf at Texas Tech University in the fall. Weworski, a 5th year FCWT player, had 4 birdies on the day and will be a contender on Sunday. Joshua Granger of Monrovia, CA (2009) and Joseph Stewart of Palm Desert, CA (2009) are tied for 6th place at 72. Four players will start the final round tied for 8th place: Grant Rappleye of Elk Grove, CA (2008), who won the Sun Devil Classic in November; fifteen year old Chris Capo of Woodland Hills, CA (2010), who finished T11 at the Mission Hills Invitational; junior Matt Rawitzer of Bellingham, WA, a third year FCWT player; and Miles Coles of Los Alamitos, CA (2008). Twenty players are within 5 strokes of the leaders. On Sunday the players will play the final 18 holes of this event on the South Course, so a lot could happen.
In the Boys 13-15 division, Parker Middleton of Phoenix, AZ (2010) leads Michael Decker of Dallas, TX (2013) by two strokes. Parker has three top 3s so far this season, but will be looking for his first FCWT win in his rookie season. Thirteen year old Decker is a third year FCWT player who won at the 11-12 division multiple times, but is looking for his first win at the 13-15 level. They will be paired with Tyler Lovato of Westminster, CO (2011) for the final round. Lovato, who opened with a 78, is a first year FCWT player who finished tied for 4th in his first FCWT event. Mark Anguiano of Whittier, CA (2010) and Grant Natori of Honolulu, HI (2011) are tied for 4th place at 80, 5 strokes back of our leader.
Twelve year old Ben Doyle of San Diego, CA (2014) is poised to defend his title. Last season, Doyle won this event, one of two wins in two events for his season. This season he has two wins and a runner-up. He lost to Tyler Moore in a playoff at Tahquitz. At the end of Saturday's round, Ben's subpar 72, gives him a 7 stroke advantage as they head to the final round. Twelve year old Andrew Rudy of San Diego, CA (2013) will start the final round in 2nd place followed by Evan Mcleod of Pebble Beach, CA (2013), who is celebrating a birthday this weekend. Eleven year old Randy Ross of Phoenix, AZ (2014) is just two strokes back of Mcleod. |
