Devon Bling is in command at the halfway mark of the IMG Junior World
SAN DIEGO, California (July 12, 2017) -- Pars at Torrey Pines South are good, on some holes more than others. With just one small water hazard (Devlin's Billabong on No. 18) the course demands precision off the tee and quality approach shots, especially on the par 3s and 4s.
Bogeys are almost unavoidable. So getting to 5-under as Devon Bling has in the first two rounds of the Junior Worlds requires one thing. You must play the par 5s under par. Today in shooting 69, the incoming UCLA freshman from Ridgecrest, Calif. played the par 5s in 4-under, with two birdies and an eagle on No. 13.
In the first round, he was 3-under on those same three holes. That's 7-under vs. his tournament total of 5-under.
Playing in the boys 15-18 division, Bling (at 139) is two shots in front of five players at 3-under 141. Among those is recent Southern California Amateur winner Sam Choi, the youngest winner in that 100-plus year-old tournament's history. After a 74 in round one, he tied the low of the day (and tournament) with a bogey-free 5-under 67 today that included a birdie on the par-4 12th hole, one of the traditionally hardest holes on the PGA Tour. The stroke average among the field today on No. 12 was 4.5.
First round leader Jordan Garner of Australia is also tied in that pack after posting ever-par 72 today.And a shot-our to Rodrigo Rodas of Guatemala for chopping 10 strokes off his first round of 77 and tying the low round of the tournament so far with a 5-under 67 that moves him into T8.
Tianling Guan, playing as an 18-year-old a full four years before he stunned the world by making the cut at The Masters at 14, shot 76, just one better than the 77 he posted in the first round, leaving him in danger of missing the cut tomorrow.
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
The girls 15-18 division continues to reflect the international state of women's golf.
Extending her first round lead was Yuka Saso, 17, of the Philippines, after a round of 6-under 66 on the newly-renovated North Course, she posted 69 to stand at 9-under. That's four shots ahead of Japan's Nao Ohbayashi, 18.
SCORING NOTE:
For full field results from all divisions, all the way through the 6-and-under "mini-me" golfers descending on various courses in San Diego County, use the results link and look for the pulldown menu on the upper right to access the division you are interested in.
View results for IMG Junior World
ABOUT THE IMG Junior World
Age Divisions: 15-17, 13-14, 11-12, 9-10, 7-8,
6-under. 72 hole stroke play event for 15-17
division, 54 holes for other divisions. Qualifying
required for 15-17, other divisions. Played at
multiple courses in the San Diego area. Online
application process begins approx. Feb 1.
View Complete Tournament Information