FL Women's 4-Ball: Teenagers Yu & Schiavone set Record

DAYTONA, FL (March 18, 2018) - Beautiful weather, pristine playing conditions and top competition made for a very exciting Women's Four-Ball Championship this year at the LPGA International - Jones Course. The Championship, which features teams of two amateur golfers, one of which must be at least 16 years of age is played over 36-holes of four-ball stroke play (formerly known as two-person, best ball). This years event was hosted by the challenging LPGA International - Jones Course, in Daytona Beach. The field featured a number of women from across the state, of all ages and abilities. In the end, the youthful duo of Ariel Yu and Chloe Schiavone took home the title after a first round that saw them five clear of the field.

Saturday saw perfect playing conditions for the ladies at LPGA International, and many teams were able to take advantages of the opportunities the course, and the weather, gave them. Four teams shot under par, with the team of Ariel Yu, of Bradenton, and Chloe Schiavone, of Jacksonville, leading the way after a seven-under par 65. Kayla Holden and Lauren Davenport sat five strokes behind Yu and Schiavone after a first round 70. Both teams feature players that currently play on the Florida Junior Tour circuit that have played well so far this year. Coming in at one-under par after Saturday's first round was the team of Therese Quinn, of Jacksonville, and Diane Lang, of Weston. Quinn and Lang are no stranger to the top of the leader board, as they already finished in the Top 10 at the first Women's Championship of the year.

Sunday saw great playing conditions again, and the field was ready for the challenge of catching up to Yu and Schiavone. After getting off to a great start, shooting a 5-under 31 of the front nine, the two went on to close with a second round 66, finishing at 13-under par total for the Championship and winning by nine strokes. Their final score of 131 breaks the previous 36-hole Four-Ball record of 133. Finishing in second at 4-under par was the team of Lauren Davenport and Kayla Holden. Sliding into third place after a second round 69 was the duo of Sherry Herman, of Middletown, NJ, and Lisa Schlesinger, of Fort Myers. This was Yu and Schiavone's first Women's Championship, so it is safe to say they will be back in contention for many more in the future!

In the Middle Division, two teams tied for first place after round one with scores of even-par 72. Teri de Luis Sr, of Sanford, and Elizabeth Breza, of Saint Augustine, were tied with Kim Balaskiewicz, of Jacksonville, and Debbie Caruso, of Ponte Vedre Beach after navigating the course with very few errors. They held a three shot lead over the duo of Jennifer Polich, of Clearwater, and Marie Ann Petrillo, of Saint Petersburg. Sunday saw quite the mixup in the leader board, as Polich and Petrillo surged up the leader board to ultimately take the title from Breza and Luis. Polich and Petrillo shot a final round 72 to win by three stroke over Patrisa Handley, of Sarasota, and Christine Martin, of Palm Harbor, who snuck into second place after shooting a second round 74. Breza and Luis rounded out the top three after a 7-over par 79.

The Middle First Division saw the team of Kerstin Koenig, of Naples, and Jennie Miller, also of Naples, take home the title after an impressive second round 75 saw them snatch the victory from Barbara Martin, of Pensacola and Elise Gordon, of Lantana, who led after round with with a 2-over par 74. Koenig and Taylor came roaring from behind after they sat 5-shots out of the lead after day one. Their 75 on the second day bested the field by four shots and secured their victory. Anita Venner, of Vero Beach and Luanne Zabytko, of Jupiter, rounded out the top three in the Middle First Division.

Susan Macina, of Orlando and Cynthia Binkley, also of Orlando took home the title after a five shot victory in the Forward Division. Lory Cassens, of Orlando and Lisa Wright, of Orlando finished in second place after rounds of 84-80. Rounding out the top three in the Forward Division was Fran Stock, of Bradenton and June Gilley, of Bradenton.