With temperatures creeping into the high 90's, Florida's top professional and amateur golfer's played their second round of the inaugural Florida Women's & Senior Open at Reunion Resort this morning and scores were even hotter than the head index. The Florida Women's & Senior Open is a 54-hole stroke play event featuring eligible professionals and amateur women of all ages. With the second round commencing, it meant it was cut day for these talented ladies. After the opening 36 holes, the field would be cut to low 48 and ties in the Open division and low 12 and ties in the Senior division. A lot was at stake and the pressure was on, however for first round leader, Sandra Changkija, nothing seemed to faze her.
Changkija, the overnight leader after shooting a six-under par first round, came out this morning with the same mentality. Using her knowledge from playing multiple LPGA events, Sandra fired a seven-under par round of 65 to keep in command of the championship. Sandra started her round similarly to her first round with a birdie on her second hole of the day. Yet, after 19 holes, she would make her first bogey of her championship on her second hole, the par-four 12th. She went on to birdie the fifteenth and sixteenth holes before making her second bogey of the day on the 17th. With a birdie on her ninth hole of the morning, Sandra would make the turn at two-under par.
Sticking to her game plan, Sandra's putter got hot on her back nine. Putting on a clinic and proving she was the professional in her group, Sandra birdied the first four holes of the back nine to get to six-under for the day and 12-under par for the championship. She went on to cancel her bogey she made on the sixth hole with a birdie at the seventh. Standing on her final hole of the second round, the par-five ninth hole, Sandra striped her drive down the fairway, hit the green in two, and two putted to make her sixteenth birdie of the championship and shoot a seven-under par, 65. With her 13-under par total after two days, Sandra increased her lead to five heading into the final round.
Samantha Wagner Shoots 63 to Vault into Second Place
Sitting alone in second place is Florida Junior Tour alumni, Samantha Wagner. Wagner, who opted to turn professional after qualifying for this summer's U.S. Women's Open. Wagner is playing in her first FSGA event as a professional after a very successful junior and amateur career. Yesterday, she shot a one-over par, 73. But today, Samantha shot the low score of the championship with a 9-under par 63. Beginning her second round on the 10th hole of the Palmer Course, Wagner started out with a birdie on her first hole. After nabbing another birdie on the par-four, 13th hole, Samantha would get her putter going before making the turn. The former University of Florida standout made birdie on 15, 16, and 17 to get to five under for the day. Making the turn in 31, Wagner followed up on her back nine with birdies on her12th hole and final three holes of the day for 32 on the back nine.
Wagner's 63 is her lowest tournament round ever. Even with nine birdies, Samantha still had some testy par putts to make throughout the round which made her happier than making nine birdies. In those situations," Wagner said, "I managed to keep it [my round] bogey-free."
Amateurs
Two players are tied for the low-amateur position in the Open division at even par. Recent Girls' Junior State Amateur Champion, Jenny Kim, and the 13-15 division Girls' Junior State Amateur Runner-Up, Katie Yoo, are tied overall in fifth place after the opening 36 holes of the championship.
The Cut
After the opening two rounds of the championship, those shooting 11-over par and better moved on to Sunday's final round. In all, 54 players will tee it up with hopes of making a charge at leader Sandra Changkija.
Senior Division
In the Senior Women's division, Barb Bunkowsky maintained her lead as she struggled with a second round score of 77. After shooting three-under par yesterday, Barb had some room for comfort and used it to her advantage. Opening with six consecutive pars, Bunkowsky would record two double-bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes to make the turn at four-over par. Regrouping herself for the back nine, Bunkowsky would bogey her 13th hole before carding her first birdie of the day on her 16th hole. Yet, with a bogey at the last, Bunkowsky would finish her second round with a five-over par 77.
Sitting in second place is Carolyn Hill of St. Petersburg. After shooting a 76 yesterday, Hill proved her consistency with another 76 today. Hill sits six back of Bunkowsky heading into the final round.
Senior Amateurs
The low-amateur in the Senior division still is Tama Caldabaugh. After opening with a three-over par round of 75, Caldabaugh played the Watson Course today en route to a six-over par, 78. Overall, those ladies finishing the first two rounds at 21-over par or better made the cut and will be playing in the final round.
