KHANG AND KELLY LEAD GIRLS, BOYS' SECTIONS AT CORAL GABLES

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL

By DAVID MACKINTOSH  

CORAL GABLES, Florida: Megan Khang is the new girls' tournament leader in the Junior Orange Bowl golf championships, posting the day’s lowest girls’ round of 70 for  a two-day total of 139.

That gave her a five-stroke advantage over Nicole Morales and Delfina Acosta. Overnight leader Acosta gave up ground with a 5-over par 76.

Khang mastered a stiff breeze over the Donald Ross-designed Biltmore course near Miami with solid ball-striking and a deft short game, although she confessed in the early stages she failed to convert several straightforward birdie opportunities.

“My putting was not good in the beginning but improved as the round progressed,” the diminutive 15-year old Californian explained. 

“Even so, I was two over by the 13^th but managed to finish strong. I birdied the 16th, rimmed the cup for another at 17 then eagled the closing par-five.”

On the other hand Argentina’s Acosta biggest problem came on the greens, a balky putter that continually misfired.

“It’s simple,” she explained. “Yesterday I missed seven greens and scored 68. Today I missed five greens and finished five-over par. I need to get my putting back on track.”   

Nicole Morales, one of the title favorites, posted a second 72 for 144. 

“I short-sided myself around a few greens but luckily, my putting was in better shape today,” the 16-year old +4 handicapper from South Salem, New York State, said.

“Yesterday I was great from the tee, today not at all. Hopefully for the weekend I can get my entire game together.”

In the boys' division England’s Patrick Kelly maintained his overnight lead, adding a solid 3-under par 68 to his opening 65, California’s Corey Pereira vaulting into solo second spot behind the 18-year-old English boys stroke-play champion from Boston, Lincolnshire, with a 7-birdie 66 for 134.

After spending three hours in hospital care yesterday for severe conjunctivitis and nosebleeds, Kelly wasn’t even sure he would be able to see well enough to continue; but when he opened his round with three consecutive birdies he put his blurry eyesight out of mind.   

“I’ve sort of got used to it and new eyedrops have helped. I could have made at least three more birdies over the next stretch but instead I made my first bogey at the 12^th and another at the 14^th, both from poor bunker shots. Fortunately I was able to get one back with a birdie at the final hole.

“This course really requires a lot of shot positioning and I’m learning that as I go,” the leader added. “Fortunately from the start I’ve had great pace on these greens, which are now getting really slick.”   

Players moving into contention for the final 36 include Austria’s Robin Goger 67  for 135, Argentina’s Jamie Lopez-Rivarola 67  for 136, Bolivia’s Jose Montano 69 for 137, Austria’s Robin and Germany’s Max Mehles 67 for 138. 

Much-fancied pre-tournament favorite South African Haydn Porteous, after an even-par 71 is now six strokes adrift. 

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