Junior Disc Golf World Championships: Leaders Emerge After Three Rounds
Date Published
The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the 2019 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships in Emporia, Kansas. After three rounds of intense competition, leaders are starting to emerge in each age division. While some divisions still have plenty of room for contenders to make a move, others have seen their top spots solidified.
In the Junior 18 & Under division, Zach Arlinghaus is celebrating his 16th birthday on top of the leaderboard. Despite facing stiff competition from Levi Hancock, Arlinghaus managed to keep his lead intact, reducing it slightly but still maintaining a three-stroke advantage after a roller-coaster round that saw him score two birdies and three bogeys in the first five holes.
The Junior Girls 18 & Under division has seen Melody Castruita extend her lead, adding three strokes to her overall total. Kat Mertsch remains hot on her heels but will need a strong fourth round to catch up.
Meanwhile, Iowa's Gannon Buhr continues to dominate the Junior 15 & Under division, with an impressive 18-stroke lead over his nearest competitor.
In the Junior Girls 15 & Under division, Hope Brown has taken the top spot, extending her lead to 14 strokes ahead of Kat Mertsch. However, the competition is far from over, and Friday's round four will likely see some surprises.
The Junior 12 & Under division is seeing a closely contested battle between Kolby Sanchez and Juan Anthony Cruz, with just three strokes separating them from their nearest rivals. Haley Castruita also holds a two-stroke lead in the Junior Girls 12 & Under division, but Carver Whitford and MaryJane Stevens are hot on her heels.
The youngest age divisions have seen some fierce competition as well. Wyatt Mahoney and Uriyah Kelley are locked in a battle for supremacy in the Junior 10 & Under division, while Kaidin Bell and Jackson Green are vying for top spot in the Junior 8 & Under division.
One of the most dramatic turnarounds occurred in the Junior Girls 12 & Under division, where Zoey Lynn Martinez pulled away from Ava Meyer on Thursday, taking an overall lead of 11 strokes.
With no semifinals this year and only one more round to go before the finals, all eyes are on the players as they battle for top spots. Follow the scores on pdgalive.com to see who will emerge victorious in each age division.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2019juniorworlds/news/day-two-wrap-up