Dunne comes from behind in difficult conditions

Back to Back wins for Stevens

Wesley Chapel, FL- On December 5-6, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) hosted its season-ending, Golfweek/Titleist ranked Tour Championship at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida. With over 100 players from 16 countries and 11 states, this was the largest field in the HJGT’s two-year history. Heavy, saturating rains and high winds threatened the tournament, but the players were able to complete the entire 36-holes thanks to the hard work of the course staff. Saddlebrook Resort, which is already a difficult course with many hazards, was made even more difficult with the weather. The juniors endured the conditions and the best players came out on top.

In the Boys 16-19 division, the defending champion, Lushen Evans of Summerville, South Carolina, jumped out to an early lead after firing a first round of even-par, 70. Not far behind Evans was Matt Youmans of Lawrenceville, Georgia, who trailed by two after a first round of two-over par, 72. All tied for third place, Gary Dunne of Greystone, Ireland, Josh O’Neal of Simpsonville, South Carolina, and Coley Davis of Bluffton, South Carolina, each turned in a first round of four-over, 74, and were all in contention for the title. During the final round of play, there were large shifts in the leaderboard. Gary Dunne started off his final round hot with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. After giving a couple back, Dunne finished his final round at even-par, 70, and was able to hold on and take the Boys 16-19 Tour Championship title with a tournament total of 144. Dunne’s win was helped by his par-4 performance, which was the best in the division, and his 28 pars. Patrick Grahek of Alpharetta, Georgia was tied for sixth after his first round of five-over, 75. Grahek played strong his final round and turned in a final round of even-par, 70, for a tournament total of 145. Grahek’s play during the final round moved him into second place in the division. Reed Kerwin of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, was also tied for sixth after a first round, 75. Kerwin had two birdies on the front nine to put him at two-under par, but he double bogeyed the 13th and bogeyed the 14th to give him a final round of one-over par, 71. Kerwin’s tournament total of 146 put him into third place. Lushen Evans, the first round leader, was nursing a knee injury and struggled down the final stretch. Evans turned in a final round of 77 for a tournament total of 147 to tie him for fourth. Matt Youmans had a string of bogeys during his final round and final round of 78 and tournament total of 150 dropped him to tie for ninth place.

In the Boys 13-15 division, Chris Sells of Savannah, Georgia took control of the lead after the first round with a three-over, 73. Bernardo Curbelo of Weston, Florida was in second with a first round, 74, and Rigel Fernandes of Mangalore, India was in third with a five-over, 75. The race for the Boys 13-15 Tour Championship title was close, but a few birdies in the final round was the deciding factor. Rigel Fernandes started with a few bogeys during the final round, but he was able to gain some strokes back with two birdies. Fernandes’s par-5 stroke average of 4.50 and 21 pars helped him turn in a final round score of two-over par, 72, and a tournament total of 147 for his third victory on tour this season. Sells also had a few bogeys during the final round, but was unable to gain any strokes back. Sells turned in a final round of five-over par, 75, for a tournament total of 148 and the second place finish. Curbelo faltered a little on the back, but he made a couple of birdies and kept his momentum. Curbelo finished the second round with a 76 and a tournament total of 150, which was just enough to give him third place in the Boys 13-15 division.

In the Boys 10-12 division, Jack Comstock of Jacksonville, Florida, and Tian Yi Cen of Bradenton, Florida were tied for first after each turned in a first round of one-over, 71. Comstock and Cen battled back and forth during the round, but eventually Comstock pulled away and was able to finish two strokes better than Cen on the final day. Comstock’s final round of 74 and a tournament total of 145 gave him the Boys 10-12 division Tour Championship title, his eighth victory of the season. Cen had a final round of 76 for a tournament total of 147 and second place. Roland Morris of Hickory, North Carolina turned in rounds of 81-78 for a tournament total of 159 and a third place finish.

In the Girls 15-19 division, Kristine Odaiyar of Ocala, Florida, took a three-stroke first round lead after firing a one-over par, 71. Sammi Stevens of Hereford, Texas was tied for second after a first round of four-over, 74, and Ai Miyazawa of Miyazakikan, Japan was in fourth after a first round, 76. The final round saw a lot of shifting. Sammi Stevens had bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes, but was able to gain both strokes back with birdies on the 9th and 14th. Stevens’ final round of even-par, 70, was enough to move her into first place with a tournament total of 144. Stevens had the best par-4 performance in the division and the Tour Championship victory makes it back-to-back wins for Stevens. Miyazawa fought for the top spot the entire final round. Her spectacular play gave her a one-under par, 69, the only under par round for the tournament. It was not quite enough for the top spot, but Miyazawa’s tournament total of 145 gave her second place. Kristine Odaiyar had a difficult final round and she turned in a six-over, 76, for a tournament total of 147, which dropped her into third place.

In the Girls 10-14 division, Caroline Quamme of Potomac, Maryland was in the lead after the first round with an 82. Mallory Etcheberry of Wesley Chapel, Florida was in second with an 83 and Mia Zanghetti of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida was in third with an 85. Mia Zanghetti came back the final round and played wonderfully for a one-over par, 71. Zanghetti’s tournament total of 156 gave her the Tour Championship title in the Girls 10-14 division. Mallory Etcheberry stayed in second place with her final round of 82 and tournament total of 165. Caroline Quamme carded a final round of 84 for a tournament total of 166 and the third place finish.

For more pictures from the HJGT Tour Championship please visit the HJGT fan page on Facebook.com. Also be sure to check out player quotes in our weekly podcast, which can be found on the HJGT website. For a direct link to the HJGT Facebook page and final round results please visit www.hjgt.org.

Tournament Yardage
Boys 16-19 and Boys 13-15 Yardage- 6,654 yards (Par 70)
Girls 15-19, Girls 10-14, and Boys 10-12 Yardage- 5,658 yards (Par 70)

Weather
Saturday- 62 degrees, Windy, Rainy
Sunday- 63 degrees, Mostly Cloudy