Round One Recap: A Windy Start

A windy start in round one of the Junior Golf Tour of Asia’s season-opening event at Zhuhai Golden Gulf Golf Club, The Southern Junior, has come to conclusion. Scores reflected harsh wind, giving an advantage to players used to battling the elements. The top of the leader board is tight and many competitors have a chance to take the lead on moving day tomorrow. Here is your round one recap for The Souther Junior:

Leading the way in the Girl’s Division is Yizhen (Tina) Kong (2022) of Qingdao, China. Kong made four birdies today on the par-4 2^nd hole, the par-4 3^rd hole, the par 4 9^th hole, and the par 5 17^th hole, en route to a 1-over-par score of 73. This is Kong’s fourth JGTA event. Her best finish in the last JGTA season was T11 at the JGTA Bogor Junior Championship hosted by Sentul Highlands Golf Club.

Trailing Kong, Surapa Janthamunee (2022) of Songkla, Thailand and Wenlu Su (2021) of Guangzhou, China are tied. Janthamunee is making her JGTA return this week since competing at the JGTA Phuket Junior Open in 2018. Su was a regular competitor last season, with her best finish being 9^th at the first edition of The Southern Junior last spring.

There is a four-way tie atop the Boy’s Division leader board. The players include Francis Andre Lanuza (2022) of Muntinlupa, Philippines, Hsiao Che Yang (2021) of Tainan, Taiwan, Jui Shen Lee (2020) of Yunlin, Taiwan, and Supapon Amornchaichan (2024) of Bangkok, Thailand. All players shot 3-over-par scores of 75. Yang is a 2018-2019 Junior All-Asia Team member.

Pursuing the pack is Aksel Moe (2023) of Richville Minn., USA and Supakorn Amornchaichan (2023) of Bangkok, Thailand, firing 4-over-par scores of 76.

The second round of play begins tomorrow morning at 7:00. Who will live up to the “moving day” expression and shake up the leader board?