Japan (-2) fired a 2-under 142 to extend its lead to five strokes following day three in the Girls’ Division of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2014 Supported by JAL in Toyota City, Aichi-Prefecture, Japan.
The Australian team has moved into a tie for fourth place after shooting a team score of 6-under in Round 3 to finish at 11-under par, seven strokes behind leaders Venezuela.
Brett Coletta continued his impressive form with 67 (-3) to sit tied second on the individual standings while Zach Murray and Blake Windred shot 70 (-1) and Blake Proverbs had 73 (+2).
“Today was very similar to the previous two days,” Japanese captain Kaori Shibayama said. “We played our kind of golf and also adjusted to the greens very well.”
The United States – buoyed by Kristen Gillman’s 1-under 71 – remained within striking distance, finishing the day at 3-over. European champion Sweden (+5) fell a spot to third while Korea (+8) and South American champion Colombia (+16) remained in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Sweden’s Linnea Strom (-4) shot a third round par to maintain a one-stroke lead over Haruhi Nakao of Japan (-3). Amy Lee of the United States (-2) also sits below par while Japan’s Mizuho Konishi and Kim Sojung of Korea are tied for fourth at 1-over.
In the boys’ competition, defending champion Venezuela (-18) – led by individual front-runner Jorge Garcia – shot an 11-under 202 to take a three-shot lead over the United States (-15).
“Jorge obviously played really well,” Venezuelan coach Daniel Escalera said. “These guys are all playing very well and, of course, our main goal here is to win.”
Norway shot a 10-under 203 to move into third place at minus-14. Australia and Italy are tied for fourth at 11-under while France (-8), Mexico (-7), Canada (-6), Chile (-4) and Japan (E) round out the top 10. Korea (+1), South Africa (+2), Thailand (+10), Argentina (+11) and Zimbabwe (+32) make up the rest of the field.
Garcia fired his second 64 of the tournament, bringing his total to 17-under and giving him an eight shot lead going into the final round. Australia’s Brett Coletta and Cameron Young of the United States are tied for second at minus-9, a single stroke ahead of Chile’s Joaquin Niemann (-8).
Three players – Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico and Italian teammates Guido Migliozzi and Renato Paratore – are tied for fifth at 6-under while three more – Mexico’s Aaron Terrazas, Carter Simon of Canada and France’s Paul Elissalde – sit in a tie for eighth at minus-5.
The final round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2014 Supported by JAL tees off Friday at 8AM. For more information, please visit www.wjgtc.org or www.facebook.com/ToyotaJuniorGolfWorldCup.
GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS
1. Japan 142-146-142 = 430 (-2)
2. United States 139-152-144 = 435 (+3)
3. Sweden 143-146-148 = 437 (+5)
4. Korea 145-150-145 = 440 (+8)
5. Colombia 148-149-151 = 448 (+16)
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Linnea Strom, Sweden 70-70-72 = 212 (-4)
2. Haruhi Nakao, Japan 71-71-71 = 213 (-3)
3. Amy Lee, United States 66-75-73 = 214 (-2)
T4. Mizuho Konishi, Japan 71-75-71 = 217 (+1)
T4. Kim Sojung, Korea 69-76-72 = 217 (+1)
BOYS TEAM STANDINGS
1. Venezuela 205-214-202 = 621 (-18)
2. United States 205-210-209 = 624 (-15)
3. Norway 213-209-203 = 625 (-14)
T4. Australia 210-211-207 = 628 (-11)
T4. Italy 209-208-211 = 628 (-11)
6. France 211-211-209 = 631 (-8)
7. Mexico 208-219-205 = 632 (-7)
8. Canada 211-213-209 = 633 (-6)
9. Chile 204-214-217 = 635 (-4)
10. Japan 207-213-219 = 639 (E)
11. Korea 215-212-213 = 640 (+1)
12. South Africa 208-215-218 = 641 (+2)
13. Thailand 213-216-220 = 649 (+10)
14. Argentina 218-217-215 = 650 (+11)
15. Zimbabwe 224-221-226 = 671 (+32)
BOYS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Jorge Garcia, Venezuela 64-68-64 = 196 (-17)
T2. Brett Coletta, Australia 68-69-67 = 204 (-9)
T2. Cameron Young, United States 65-67-72 = 204 (-9)
4. Joaquin Niemann, Chile 65-69-71 = 205 (-8)
T5. Guido Migliozzi, Italy 66-70-71 = 207 (-6)
T5. Alvaro Ortiz, Mexico 71-68-68 = 207 (-6)
T5. Renato Paratore, Italy 72-67-68 = 207 (-6)
T8. Paul Elissalde, France 67-73-68 = 208 (-5)
T8. Carter Simon, Canada 72-69-67 = 208 (-5)
T8. Aaron Terrazas, Mexico 67-72-69 = 208 (-5)