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Dobson makes a push at AJGA tourney
Gallery
By BRIAN DZENIS
bdzenis@vindy.com
Sean-Karl Dobson had an excellent back nine to put himself in the title conversation in round two of the American Junior Golf Association’s Mahoning Valley Hospotal Foundation Junior All-Star on Wednesday.
After an even front nine at Mill Creek Golf Course, the Texan eagled No. 14 and birdied the next two holes to finish with a 66, the lowest score in either the boys or girls competition.
Dobson’s improvement from a 71 on Tuesday has him just two strokes back of leader Aidan Tran.
Tran holed three birdies and no bogeys to shoot 67, giving him a combined score of 135. New York’s Matthew Yamin holed six birdies and three bogeys to tie Tran for the day. He is currently tied for third with Ryan Bilby and Sean Curran.
The most improved golfer of the tournament is Colts Neck N.J.’s Rohan Sikand, who went from a 77 on day one to a 69 on day two to make the cut for round three today.
In the girls side of the tournament, Thitaporn Saithip stayed at the top of the standings, shooting even with three birdies and three bogeys.
San Diego native Sriya Mupparaju made a jump up the table on Wednesday, shooting the best girls round with a 68. With four birdies and two bogeys, she jumped up to fourth place.
Sophie Linder of Carthage, Tenn., sits two strokes back of Saithip after shooting 69 in round two. She had a good front nine, finishing 3-under at the turn with three birdies. The momentum didn’t carry over with three bogeys to one birdie on the back.
Shannon Kennedy of Beverly Hills, Mich., sits in third place after shooting 71 for the second consecutive round. She salvaged a bad front nine in which she finished 6-over par by making two birdies and shooting even the rest of the way on the back nine.
The only other female golfers to shoot par or better on Wednesday was North East Pa.’s Lydia Swan and Eagle, Idaho’s Carly Carter. They both were even and qualified for the final round.