2012 BJGA International Classic Underway
The 2012 BJGA International Classic got underway yesterday [Aug 7] at the Tucker’s Point Club. This year’s event sees a smaller than usual field in each age division, however, each division promises to be a competitive affair.
The conditions could not have been better for the first round of play and through 15 holes there were some great rounds in the cards. The final few holes took their toll on a few players, including leader of the 16-18 age division, Julien Papadopoulo. Julien was only +2 entering the final four holes on his home course, but he struggled over the home stretch to finish with an 8-over par 78.
Aaron Railton and Scott Gilbertson sit one shot back after the first day’s play, with both players having a couple of poor holes tarnishing otherwise solid rounds. Justin Dixon-Watts is still right in it after an opening round of 83 after a poor front nine. Cory DeSilva recovered his round on the back nine after a difficult opening nine, finishing with a 92.
In the 13-15 age division, Evan Watkins was hoping to close out the low round of the day but triple bogeyed the final hole to finish with a division leading 79. Walker Campbell is Evan’s closest competitor after a round of 83. James Robertson couldn’t take advantage of his home course knowledge, finishing with a 90, while Khari Place struggled to cope with the heat, coming in with a 95.
Jordan Saunders is playing off the white tees for the first time in a competitive round and has left himself with lots of work to do tomorrow to get back into the mix.
The 12 and under division is the tightest division after round one with just 3 shots separating the first four places. Brady Cordeiro has jumped out to a slim lead after covering the final nine holes in 2-over par for an 85. Benjamin Barnett covered the final nine in 4-over par to keep pace with an 86.
Dakota Lamb, the 2012 Phoenix Match Play Champion in the Open Red Division, suffered a similar fate to the leader in the 16-18 division. After covering the opening 14 holes in +7, Dakota’s round ran out of steam, coming home +9 over the last four holes to finish with an 86. Mikus Ming is still right in it with an 88 after a few bad holes marred an otherwise reasonable round. The youngest player in the field, 8 year old Kenny Leseur, struggled a little in his first major stroke play event, coming in with a 106.
The lone girl in the field, Elizabeth Parsons, is doing well, carding a first round of 90. The tournament moves to the Mid-Ocean Club today for round two where the players hope the light winds and sunny weather will continue. The final round will be held on Thursday at the Port Royal Golf Club.
The full field scores are listed below:
16-18 Age Group Division
78 Julien Papadopoulo
79 Aaron Railton
79 Scott Gilbertson
83 Justin Dixon-Watts
92 Cory DeSilva
13-15 Age Group Division
79 Evan Watkins
83 Walker Campbell
90 James Robertson
95 Khari Place
99 Jordan Saunders
12 and Under Age Group Division
85 Brady Cordeiro
86 Benjamin Barnett
86 Dakota Lamb
88 Mikus Ming
106 Kenneth Leseur
Girls Division
90 Elizabeth Parsons
