Shin in control of destiny
Cape Coral’s Brittany Shin continues to lead the girls’ division at the 23rd annual Nolan Henke-Patty Berg Junior Masters through two rounds at even par 144.
The champion in 2012 shot 75 on Thursday after firing 3-under 69 on Wednesday. She leads last year’s division champion Sydney Shrader (146) by two strokes.
“I had so many birdie opportunities, but I always ended up short.” Shin said. “There were seven holes like that, and I couldn’t get them to go in. Finally, on the 18th I hit it harder, and then rimmed out. I got really frustrated. I didn’t miss any fairways. I thought the greens would be faster, but they were not.”
The weather was much more cooperative Thursday, with only a drizzle that came at the end of the round.
“It drizzled on us for about six holes,” Liz Kragh said, one mom who followed her daughter Kelli around the course.
Luke Farmer of Estero continues to lead after two rounds with 141, but shares the top spot in the boys’ 13-15 division with Thomas Salanito of Palm Harbor. Salanito shot the lowest score of the tournament so far with a four-under-68 Thursday. It is his first time scoring in the 60s during a tournament.
“After I parred number 17, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to shoot in the 60s.'” he said. “Now I feel like I could run a marathon.”
His father, Charles, shared the moment with him with a congratulatory handshake and hug. As an added remembrance, his dad videotaped the reporter interviews Salanito faced.
Eric Grimes is the leader of the boys’16-18 division after a 72 to put him at 145. Ryan Frost is five strokes back at 150. Four-time winner Landon Weber had another disappointing day, shooting 79 for a two-day total of 159. He trails Grimes by 14 strokes.
First round leader Christian Taylor skied to an 82 Thursday and is now nine strokes back.
“I had four double-bogeys, and a triple on #5,” Taylor said. “I shot one-under for the other 13 holes.”
Cape Coral’s Ross Lally continues to lead Cape’s 16-18 year-old competitors. He shot 78-80-156.
“It was rollercoaster golf for me today.” Lally said. “I had three birdies, three bogeys, and one double on the back nine. It was very frustrating.”
His Ida Baker High School teammate, Alec Dilallo, shot 79-86-165 for the two days.
“Today was one of the worst putting days of my career,” he said. “I had 40 putts out there.”
In the boys’ 13-15 division, the top Cape Coral golfer is Mason Kiernan with a two-day score of 154.
The tournament is being played at River Hall Country Club in Alva this year, the first time in its 23-year history played away from Cypress lake Country Club. Cypress Lake is undergoing renovations that will keep the event at River Hall for two more years.
Joe Goellner, head golf professional at River Hall, was given the reins of the tournament by longtime director Robin Albright. He’s been working on this tournament since December.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” he said. “One of our first goals was to grow the field. Almost 50 percent of this year’s field has never played in the Junior Masters before.”
The second figure is the number of participants. Last year 51 players competed. That number is up to 68 this year, a 33 percent increase. The field also includes six international players with Canada, Switzerland, and Thailand all represented this year.
Shin returns to the 54-hole, three-day tourney she won three years ago at age 11.
“My drives go farther now,” she said.
The Junior Masters concludes with the third and final round on Friday at River Hall.