Bellarmine College Prep takes decisive lead into final round of Palmetto Championship

Bellarmine College Prep of San Jose, Calif., shot a 6-under 274 at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, seizing control after the first round of the Palmetto High School Golf Championship.

Bellarmine will take an eight-shot lead over second place Myers Park (N.C.) into the final round.

Bellarmine was led by Boots Del Biaggio, who shot a blistering 6-under 64. Thomas Eubanks from Myers Park and Eddy Lai of Bellarmine were each 4-under. Waccamaw’s Patrick Golden shot a 2-under 68 and is in sixth place individually.

The Warriors are in fourth place as a team after shooting a 294.

The Championship Flight will play its final round Saturday at True Blue while the first flight will play at Caledonia.

Defending champion Durham Academy is returning to defend its title against teams from South Carolina, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, Maryland and Texas.

Current PGA Tour players Rickie Fowler, the 2006 champion, and Harris English are among the Palmetto’s distinguished alums.

Knaffle leads at Myrtle Beach National Junior Shootout

Smith Knaffle of Murrells Inlet shot a 3-under-par 69 and leads the girls division after the first round Friday of the Myrtle Beach National Junior Shootout on the SouthCreek Course at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club.

In the boys division, Attie Giles of Pinehurst, N.C., has a one-stroke lead over Williams Mirams of Stroudsburg, Pa., and Jackson Chandler of Dublin, Ohio, after shooting a 70.

Kevin Burris and Holden Grigg of Myrtle Beach and Matthew Griego of North Myrtle Beach are tied for fourth at 73 in the 36-player overall boys division.

Murrells Inlet sisters Katie and Kelli Smith shot rounds of 82 and 83, respectively, and are in eighth and tied for ninth in the 19-player girls overall division.

The final round is Saturday.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Bellarmine College Prep takes decisive lead into final round of Palmetto Championship."