Sixteen-year old Curtis Elliott of Winter Park fired a 2-under par 70 for a one-stroke lead at the 47th Florida State Junior Championship at LPGA International's Champions and Legends courses on Monday.
Elliott, who finished tied for 43rd at least year's State Junior, will have to hold off Daytona Beach's Matt Every. Every, who won the 12-14 age division in 1998 and finished in a tie for 4th last year, shot the only other sub-par round of the day with a 1-under 71.
Seventeen-year old Hiland Sanders of Wauchula leads a group of five that posted an even-par 72. Sanders has qualified to play in the Florida State Amateur Championship later this week. The four other players that posted a 72 are: Palm Beach Gardens' Tim Stieren (age 15), Miami Springs' Alan Pereda (age 16), Gainesville's Robert Gates Jr. (age 15), and Longwood's Matt Berzovich (age 17).
Defending champion Major Manning of Ormond Beach has some ground to make up. He posted a first-round 4-over par 76.
In the 12-14 year old division, Greg Forest of Palm City (age 13) shot a 1-over par 73. Another 13-year old, Mike Stern of Miami, is two strokes back after a 3-over par 75.
The final round will start Tuesday morning at 8:00am. An awards ceremony will be held following the completion of play.
