Zediker Finishes Strong at Bluffton Junior Open
Quevedo Dominates Field in HJGT Win
Bluffton, SC (May 18-19) – The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour travelled to Crescent Pointe Golf Club for the Bluffton Junior Open. Although storms were in the area, most players were treated to sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80’s. Rated one of the best courses in 2010, the golf course at Crescent Point, rated at par 71, was complete with hazards, windy conditions, and challenging greens. Rain showers late in the day on Saturday gave players some trouble and had an effect on the pace of the greens. This tournament was ranked by both the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS). Winners of all three divisions receive an automatic bid to the 2013 Tour Championship. Winners of the boys 15-18 and girls 15-18 divisions also received four AJGA performance stars while the winner of the boys 11-14 division won one AJGA Performance Star as well as performance points which were awarded to the top 10 finishers in each age division. These points will go towards end of the year honors including HJGT State teams and the Hurricane Cup.
The Boys 15-18 Division was close throughout most of the tournament though Zach Zediker of Gray, GA.pulled away late to squash any possible drama on the 18th green. With this win, Zediker moves into second for the year-long points leaders. Zediker was tied for second after the first day shooting a very respectable 73, but pulled away with a second day 70 which was tied for the best score of the day. Zach won by a comfortable 3 strokes and was propelled to a great finish by racking up 24 pars and finishing in the top 3 in both par 4 and par 5 performance. Second place finisher Bernardo Martinez of Mexico City, Mexico finished second while shooting the only other round below par on the day. Bernardo made an impressive 6 birdies which put him in the top 5 for the tournament. Drake Cassidy of Hartsville, SC finished one stroke behind Martinez with a total score of +5 for the tournament. Cassidy led the field in birdies, par 3 performance, and par 5 performance. However, two double bogeys and a triple bogey on Saturday neutralized his birdie breaking abilities. Rafa Jauregui won the Golf Pride Comeback Player of the Week award improving by 7 strokes from Saturday to Sunday.
The Girls 15-18 division was controlled by Isidora Quevedo of Chile the whole way at the Bluffton Junior Open. Second place finisher Nathalie Lezcano of Hilton Head Island, SC and fourth place finisher Abby Burditt of St. Augustine, FL were both 3 strokes behind Quevedo after the first round and could not make it up on Sunday. Quevedo dominated the field posting the best score on each day and cruised through the last few holes to seal the win. Quevedo was steady in her win, posting 28 pars which was seven better than her closest competitor. Second place finisher Lezcano had the most birdies and dominated the par 3 holes, but could not pull out the victory. Anita Uwadia of Lagos, Nigeria took third place with second round score of 77. Uwadia had a rough first day, but finished strong on Sunday with the lowest stroke average on par 5’s. Lauren Brychell of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL won the Golf Pride Comeback Player of the Week after improving her score by eight shots.
The Boys 11-14 division was the closest division of the weekend coming down to the final hole. Alec Weary of Bluffton, SC took home the trophy beating James Wohler of Savannah, GA and Wil Sheppard of Mt. Pleasant, SC. Sheppard carded a birdie on 18 to boost him into second place while Wohler had a chance to force a playoff on the 18th hole with his close approach shot, but he failed to make the putt. Weary hit the most birdies and scored the best on par 3 holes for the tournament. This great play on par 3’s coupled with his second place finish in par 4’s gave Weary a great position to win. Wohler shot a tournament best 69 on Saturday, with an eagle on the 17th, but could not carry the momentum into Sunday despite his control over the par 5’s. Sheppard was best on par 4’s, but could not find the range on par 3’s or par 5’s. Fourth place finisher Sam McGee of Charlotte, NC was the most consistent player scoring 27 pars over the two day tournament. Tied for fourth was Alec’s brother Drew who finished in the top 5 for most pars as well as par 4 and par 5 performances. River Rauton of Leesville, SC won the Golf Pride Comeback Player of the Week after improving his score by thirteen shots. Weather Saturday: Overcast, late rain, low 80s, winds 10-25 mph Sunday: Cloudy, late light rain, mid 70s, winds 10-15 mph Tournament Yardages Boys 15-18: 6,638 yards Boys 11-14: 6107 yards Girls 15-18: 5658 yards Tournament AwardsEFX Birdie Challenge
Boys 15-18: Drake Cassidy Boys 11-14: Alec Weary Girls 15-18: Nathalie Lezcano Golf Pride Comeback Player of the Week Boys 15-18: Rafa Jauregui Boys 11-14: River Rauton Girls 15-18: Lauren Brychell About Us: The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) was founded in 2008 with the intention of providing junior golfers between the ages of 11-18 an opportunity to play exceptional courses in a competitive environment. Golfers who participate on tour will compete in one of four age divisions: Boys 15-18 Division, Boys 11-14 and Girls 15-18 Division and 11-14 Division. Based out of Jacksonville, FL, the HJGT administers events all across the southeast as well as Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.