SCHOLTZ AND LIM LEAD GOING INTO THE FINAL ROUND
South Africa’s Armandt Scholtz and Claudia Lim from Australia lead the Boys and Girls Competitions respectively going into Thursday’s final round of the 54 hole inaugural KeNako South African World Juniors being played at Kingswood Golf Estate, George.
South Africa’s Lara Weinstein started well in the Girls Competition getting to four under par for her round at the turn. However a double bogey and two bogeys coming home put paid to any chance the Glendower Golf Club player had of taking the outright lead.
Scholtz recorded a respectable three under par 69 for his second round on Wednesday which gave him a 36 hole total of 141, also three under par. He has a one stroke lead over a field of eighty three junior boys participating, all aged nineteen or younger and from nineteen different countries.
Claudia Lim, eighteen year old Australian from Sydney, leads the Girls Competition by two shots. A second round of 74, two over par, added to her regulation round on the first day, left her on two over par 146 after 36 holes. There are thirty girls participating in this competition.
The World Junior Golf Series tournament, which is a five tournament series, played in five different countries, sanctions this tournament, the first of its kind in South Africa.
Enjoying the near perfect weather the eighteen year old Scholtz, who is from Paarl Golf Club, started his round on the tenth hole, a par five, with an eagle. He recorded two birdies to turn in four under par. From here he bogeyed three holes and carded two birdies to finish his round on 69, the best round of the day which was recorded by only two other players (Breyten Meyer and Zander Gous).
“I am hitting the ball very nicely but just struggling with my short game,” said Scholtz after his round. “I am lacking confidence in my putting.”
Zimbabwe retained their lead in the Boys Team Competition. The aggregate score of both Scott Vincent and Raynard Badenhorst, after 36 holes, is a two under par 286. They are two shots clear of the South African 3 team, made up of Armandt Scholtz and Drikus Bruyns. The local team recorded a four under par 140 during Wednesday’s second round to edge closer to the current leaders.
The best round of the day amongst the girls was that of Carly Beck of Australia. She recorded a one under par 71.
In the Girls Team Competition the Australian team made up of Claudia Lim and Carly Beck had a one over par team aggregate of 145 which gave them a 36 hole aggregate of 298, ten over par. They are now five shots clear of the overnight leaders Sweden.
The final round will be played on Thursday. There is no cut, all players compete in all three rounds. The leader will tee off at 12h50 from the first tee on Thursday.