Yu & Schiavone Run Away With Women's Four-Ball Title
DAYTONA - Beautiful weather, pristine playing conditions and top competition made for a very exciting Women's Four-Ball Championship this year at the LPGA International - Jones Course. The Championship, which features two amateur golfers, one of which must be at least 16 years of age, is played over 36-holes of four-ball stroke play. This year's event was hosted by the challenging LPGA International - Jones Course, in Daytona Beach. The field featured a number of women from across the state, of all ages and abilities. In the end, the Florida Junior Tour duo of Ariel Yu and Chloe Schiavone took home the title after a first round that saw them five clear of the field.
Saturday consisted of perfect playing conditions for the players at LPGA International, and many teams were able to take advantage of the opportunities the course and weather gave them. Four teams shot under par, with the team of Ariel Yu, of Bradenton, and Chloe Schiavone, of Jacksonville, leading the way after a seven-under par 65. Kayla Holden and Lauren Davenport sat five strokes behind Yu and Schiavone after a first round 70. Both teams feature players that currently play on the Florida Junior Tour circuit and have had a successful 2018 season thus far. Coming in at one-under par after Saturday's first round was the team of Therese Quinn, of Jacksonville, and Diane Lang, of Weston. Quinn and Lang are no stranger to the top of the leader board, as they already finished in the Top 10 at the first Women's Championship of the year, the International Four-Ball.
Sunday saw great playing conditions again, and the field was ready for the challenge of catching up to Yu and Schiavone. After getting off to a great start, shooting a 5-under 31 on the front nine, the two went on to close with a second round 66, finishing at 13-under par total for the Championship and winning by nine strokes. Their final score of 131 breaks the previous 36-hole Four-Ball record of 133. Finishing in second at 4-under par was the team of Lauren Davenport and Kayla Holden. Sliding into third place after a second round 69 was the duo of Sherry Herman, of Middletown, NJ, and Lisa Schlesinger, of Fort Myers. This was Yu and Schiavone's first Women's Four-Ball Championship, so it is safe to say they will be back in contention for many more in the future!
In the Middle Division, two teams tied for first place after round one with scores of even-par 72. Teri de Luis Sr, of Sanford, and Elizabeth Breza, of Saint Augustine, were tied with Kim Balaskiewicz, of Jacksonville, and Debbie Caruso, of Ponte Vedre Beach after navigating the course with very few errors.
They held a three shot lead over the duo of Jennifer Polich, of Clearwater, and Mary Ann Petrillo, of Saint Petersburg. Sunday saw quite the mixup in the leader board, as Polich and Petrillo surged up the leader board to ultimately take the title from Breza and Luis. Polich and Petrillo shot a final round 72 to win by three stroke over Patrisa Handley, of Sarasota, and Christine Martin, of Palm Harbor, who snuck into second place after shooting a second round 74. Breza and Luis rounded out the top three after a 7-over par 79.
The Middle First Division had the team of Kerstin Koenig and Jennie Taylor, both Naples residents, take home the title after an impressive second round 75, snatching the victory from Barbara Martin, of Pensacola, and Elise Gordon, of Lantana, who led after round one with a 2-over par 74. Koenig and Taylor came roaring from behind after they sat 5 shots out of the lead after day one. Their 75 on the second day bested the field by four strokes and secured their victory. Anita Venner, of Vero Beach, and Luanne Zabytko, of Jupiter, rounded out the top three in the Middle First Division.
Susan Macina and Cynthia Binkley, both of Orlando, took home the title after a five shot victory in the Forward Division. Lory Cassens and Lisa Wright, also of Orlando, finished in second place after rounds of 84-80. Rounding out the top three in the Forward Division was the team of Fran Stock and June Gilley, of Bradenton.
The Women's Championship season rolls on to the Country Club of Ocala for the Senior Amateur Championship, April 3-4. More info here.
~Jones Course~
Defending Champions
