AICHI-PREFECTURE, Japan (14 June 2017) – The United States kept control in the Boys and Girls Competitions on another sweltering day at the Chukyo Golf Club as both GolfRSA teams slipped just a little in Wednesday’s second round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup in Toyota City, Japan.
BOYS COMPETITION
Reigning Nomads SA Boys U-19 champion Jayden Schaper produced a superb 65 on a tough scoring day at the Ishino Course. The six under par effort rocketed the Ekurhuleni golfer to a tie for second on 137 and Schaper is just two off the pace from American Frank Capan in the Individual Competition.
Schaper offset a lone bogey at the fifth with birdies at two, six and eight and fired four more on the back nine to help keep Team RSA within nine strokes of the United States.
Christo Lamprecht returned a 72, Luca Filippi – the low scorer in round one – carded a 75 and Garrick Higgo signed for a non-counting 76.
Team USA leads by one shot from Japan with a 36-hole total of 219 and is two shots ahead of Japan, while Team RSA sits in eighth spot on 428.
“The course just got firmer and the greens quicker in the heat, and tough pins put the brakes on low scoring,” said team manager Eden Thompson.
“Luca mixed a double bogey on each nine with a bogey at 15 and a great birdie at the first on his back nine. To his credit, however, he kept his chin up and his eyes on the target.
“Christo struck the ball well despite just missing a few fairways by just a couple of feet, but he picked up a couple of shocking lies. He turned one over and his good ball striking continued, but the putts refused to drop. He came home with two bogeys and a lone birdie at the fifth.
“Garrick had a double at 12 and bogey at 13 and an errand tee shot had him staring at another bogey, but he nearly holed his approach and putted for an easy par. He turned four over after a three-putt bogey at nine, and dropped further shots at three and five before he knocked in a birdie putt at the last hole.
“Jay was rock solid tee to green once again. He mumbled after the fourth hole that if he could just get one of the birdie putts to drop, he could get on a birdie run and he made it happen by giving himself the chances. He racked up birdies at 11, 14, 16 and 17 and his back nine was more of the same.
“He birdied the second, cancelled it with an uncharacteristic three-putt at the fifth, but pressed on to notch more birdies at six and eight. Overall, the boys performed well, but we are still looking for a sub-par team day.”
GIRLS COMPETITION
Kaleigh Telfer and Symone Henriques combined for a second round 147 to put Team RSA in fifth on 296, but the team will have some work to do to catch up to the United States, who stayed at the top of the pile with rounds of 144 and 143.
Team USA leads Japan by one shot on a second round total of 287 and Australia by two.
“It was a pretty frustrating day, with a swirling wind that stirred up trouble and high temperatures that left the greens crisp and dry,” said Womens Golf South Africa president Sally Greasley. “At this course, if you miss fairways or greens, it is really tough to up-and-down to save par.
“Symone had a much better day after her opening 78, despite a bogey start. She reeled in birdies at the fifth and eighth holes, but a bogey at 10 set her back to level and she also dropped at 17 for a 73.
“Kaleigh started off a bit wayward, but putted herself out of trouble and went along nicely until she hit the fourth, where she bogeyed after a tough up-and-down. She also dropped the fifth, but rallied with a birdie at 17 to sign for a 74.
“Kajal’s normally dependable driver didn’t show up and she hit a bad patch after a bogey start and birdies at 14 and 16. Errant tee shots at 17 and 18 led to more bogeys and she turned one over. She continued to drop shots at two, four and six and made an expensive eight at the ninth. She tried to hit a long second shot out of the trap, but it lipped the edge and went into the water. After a penalty drop, she hit a great shot just short of the green and a decent chip, but two putted for a 79.
“The girls all know they can do better, but this course requires a huge amount of patience, especially with very tricky pin positions that spell trouble if you take aim at them. There is more hot weather in store, which means the greens will only get slicker and harder. The team will definitely have to watch their course management and stay at an even keel under pressure. And a hot putter, of course.”
BOYS TEAM STANDINGS
419 United States 207 212
420 Thailand 211 209
421 Japan 211 210
422 New Zealand 217 205
424 Denmark 213 211
425 France 212 213; Germany 219 206
428 South Africa 216 212
429 Mexico 221 208
431 Italy 221 210
440 Colombia 222 216
443 Peru 223 220
447 Korea 228 219
453 Guatemala 227 226
454 Zimbabwe 236 218
BOYS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
135 Frank Capan USA 67-68
137 Daniel Hillier NZ 73-64; Jayden Schaper RSA 72-65
138 Alejandro Madariaga MEX 71-67
139 Gustav Frimodt DEN 68-71; Kosuke Hamamoto THA 69-70; Dimitri Mary FRA 70-69; Shota Ueki JAP 70-69
140 Marc Hammer GER 73-67
141 Clement Charmasson FRA 69-72; Sadom Kaewkanjana THA 69-72; Julian Perico PER 72-69; Arituj Winaicharoenchai THA 73-68; Ren Yonezawa JAP 70-71
GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS
287 United States 144 143
288 Japan 149 139
289 Australia 145 144
292 Italy 145 147
296 South Africa 149 147
299 Colombia 149 150
306 France 149 157
307 Mexico 151 156
311 Philippines 163 148
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (top 10)
142 Yuna Nishimura JAP 72-70
143 Emilia Migliaccio USA 71-72; Benedetta Moresco ITA 70-73
146 Grace Kim AUS 73-73; Stephanie Kyriacou AUS 72-74; Cory Lopez MEX 71-75
147 Alyaa Abdulghany USA 76-71; Isabelle Taylor AUS 76-71
149 Maria Bohorquez COL 75-74; Clara Manzalini ITA 75-74; Kaitlyn Papp USA 73-76; Riri Sadoyama JAP 80-69