Leaders Fend Off Chasers to Remain at the Top of the Junior Worlds Ranks | Professional Disc Golf Association
Date Published
The third round of the 2019 PDGA Junior Disc Golf World Championships has concluded, and a clear picture is beginning to emerge from Emporia, Kansas. With two rounds remaining before the final showdowns on Saturday morning, the top contenders have begun to separate themselves from the rest of the field.
In the Junior 18 & Under division, Zach Arlinghaus celebrated his 16th birthday by defending his lead over a strong challenge from Levi Hancock. Starting the day with a five-stroke advantage, Arlinghaus faced a roller-coaster round that saw him hit two birdies and three bogeys in the first five holes. However, he managed to compose himself and finish with a 3-under par 62, reducing his overall lead to just three strokes by the end of the day.
The Junior Girls 18 & Under leader, Melody Castruita, also continued her dominance, adding three strokes to her lead over Kat Mertsch. Meanwhile, Iowa's Gannon Buhr remains at the top of the leaderboard in the Junior 15 & Under division, with an impressive 18-stroke advantage.
In other divisions, Hope Brown extended her lead to 14 in the Junior Girls 15 & Under division, while Kolby Sanchez added a stroke to his lead over Juan Anthony Cruz in the Junior 12 & Under division. The competition is heating up, with just three strokes separating Carter Ahrens and Carver Whitford from Sanchez.
In the younger divisions, Wyatt Mahoney and Uriyah Kelley are locked in a fierce battle for top honors in the Junior 10 & Under category, while Kaidin Bell and Jackson Green are also vying for supremacy in the Junior 8 & Under division. Zoey Lynn Martinez pulled away on Thursday to take an 11-stroke lead over Ava Meyer in this division.
With no semifinals this year, all eyes will be on Saturday's final round as the competition reaches its climax. Follow the scores on pdgalive.com for live updates and see how the story unfolds.
This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/2019juniorworlds/news/day-two-wrap-up