Impressive Play & Big Moves Highlight Day 3 at the 46th Junior PGA Championships

Making it through two cuts was the name of the game Thursday when play resumed at the 46th Junior PGA Championships at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club. After inclement weather and darkness forced the second round to finish in the morning, 60 boys and 63 girls advanced to the third round, but play again was suspended due to darkness. The third-round conclusion gets underway at 7 a.m. Friday, followed by the final round. 

Julia Misemer and Kiara Romero are tied for the lead in the girls championship at 10-under 206. Romero, the No. 16 ranked girls golfer by the AJGA, shot 5-under 67, jumping six spots. The University of Oregon commit from San Jose, California, got in a rhythm on her back nine with three straight birdies; her six birdies on the back gave her eight for the round. 

“My approaches and my putting really went well together today,” Romero said. “I just tried to stay calm and not worry about the leaderboard and stay in the moment.”

Misemer and Romero will be joined by Rianne Mikhaela Malixi from the Philippines—who is one stroke behind the leaders—in the final round pairings. The top 31 girls made the cut. 

University of Illinois Commit Max Herendeen, of Bellevue, Washington, leads the boys championship at 11-under with two holes still to play in the third round. No. 4 Nicholas Gross of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Jay Leng of San Diego, California are in the group with Herendeen still left to finish the third round. Gross (5-under) and Leng (4-under) currently round out the championship’s Top 5 boys. 

Currently in second place is Ethan Gao, of Alpharetta, Georgia, whose 7-under 65 today included eight birdies.  Third place belongs to Kai Komulainen from Australia, who shot 5-under 67,  the second-best score of the day for the boys after Gao. The Top 30 and ties will make the final cut. 

Starting times for the final round will range from 8:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Friday.

Follow along with all the action HERE.