First Round Results and Recap
Jeju, South Korea (May 20, 2015) - Today was the first round of competition with an 18 Hole Four-Ball Stroke Play Qualifying. At the end of 36 holes of qualifying tomorrow, the top four teams will compete for the Jay Lee trophy in the Championship Division Match Play Semi-finals on Thursday and the Finals on Friday. The remaining 16 teams will compete in an 18 Hole Stroke Play competition on Friday for an invitation to the 2016 World Club Championship.
The day began with a crowd on the First Tee. Past WCC Championship Teams: Sunningdale GC, England; Royal Portrush GC, No. Ireland; Pine Valley GC, USA; Los Angeles CC, USA; Durban CC, So. Africa; and St. Georges G&CC, Canada along with Championship Chairman ‘Lil Pro’ Eddie Merrins each drove ceremonial balls to explosions of color and fireworks and a Korean Drum performance.
Defending Champions Mark Elgner and Mark Baines of St. George’s G&CC, Canada were first to tee off with David Abell and Kelly Miller of Pine Valley GC, USA. All other 20 teams followed into a day that turned out to be a grueling test against 35 mph winds and wind gusts up and down the Nine Bridges course with very fast greens that were difficult to read. The broad spectrum of scores ranged from 3 under the par of 72 to 12 over, 2 eagles and 28 birdies…all a testament to difficult and ever changing conditions.
The leaders are the Royal Melbourne GC team of Paul Little and Matias Sanchez at 3 under, Pine Valley GC team of Kelly Miller and David Abell at 2 under, Oitavos Dunes team of Pierre-Alexis Rolland and Ruben Figuierdo at 2 under, Bel-Air CC team of John Ahn and Sean Barrett at 2 under, Portmarnock GC team of Stephen Walsh and Jack Pierse at 2 under, Oakmont GC team of Spencer Mellon and Justin Miller at 1 under and Olympic Club team of Randy Haag and Kory Storer at 1 under. No team finished at even par. The defending champion St. George’s team finished at 1 over.
Notable shots of the day came from Enrique Guzman, Diamante who hit the flag at 17 par 3 for nearly a hole in one; Oitavos Dunes Ruben Figuerido, 18 years old, eagled 18 with a 5 wood 235 out within 6 feet, Jason Broomhead ,17 years old from Durban CC eagled # 12 from 228 yards with a 3 wood to within 4 feet; Matias Sanchez, 16 years old, birdied #4 par 4 with a six iron from 138 yards out to within 4 ft; and the father / son team from Royal Portrush Northern Ireland had 2 great shots with father David having a birdie on # 3 160 yards out using a 6 iron to within 1 inch and son Andrew birdied #18 from 144 yards out using a 9 iron to within 2 1//2 feet, and Bel-Air CC's Sean Barrett birdied from the back bunker on #18 with a chip-in.
In summary, the young guns did well and the veterans used experience to post good scores. The close leader field will be interesting to watch tomorrow as well as see some of the others close in.
