Coastal Carolina Junior Shootout

at Prestwick Country Club

(March 4-5, 2017)

Low Temperatures and Low Scores in Myrtle Beach

  The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Friday, March 3rd to prepare for the Coastal Carolina Junior Shootout, hosted at the magnificent Prestwick Country Club. Unfortunately, the warm weather in Myrtle Beach hid from the players and spectators all weekend, with lows touching around 35 degrees and highs topping out at 55 degrees. Additionally, cold winds factored into the play all weekend, punishing players for any shot not hit cleanly. Despite not ideal weather conditions over the two-day tournament, the golf course was in pristine condition, with greens rolling smooth as a player can hope for. The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour would like to extend thanks to all of the staff at the Prestwick Country Club for making this tournament possible and providing an excellent course for the players to compete on. At stake during this tournament an exemption into the 2017 National Championship December 2-3, 2017 and exemption into the 2017 Mid Season Invitational at Sea Island Plantation, June 11-13 for the top three finishers in each division, 2017, Tarheel Youth Golf Association Points, South Carolina Junior Golf Heritage Points, as well as points for top 10 finishers that go to end of the year honors. Each division provided great play all weekend and an exciting Sunday with close scores at the top of the leaderboard.   Boys 16-18 Division

The Boys age 16-18 Division featured multiple scores in the 70’s both Saturday and Sunday and no score too high to count out of trophy contention with the given weather conditions and natural difficulty of the course. Taking the top spot in the leaderboard at the conclusion of Sunday’s round was Aidan McCloskey from Northboro, MA. McCloskey shot an impressive 78 on Saturday and followed it up with an even better 76 on Sunday for a total of 154 for both days. After a rocky 4 over start on the first three holes Saturday, Aidan dialed in his game to finish the final 14 holes just 2 over. McCloskey is no stranger to the top of the leaderboard and it was apparent in his composure come Sunday. Finishing second on the leaderboard of the Coastal Carolina Junior Shootout from Smiths, Bermuda was Minkus Ming. Ming finished just one stroke shy of forcing a playoff with a two day total of 155. Despite not walking away with the first place trophy, Ming displayed great finishing abilities as he birdied 13 and 16 on Sunday to finish the back nine even. Rounding out the Boys 16-18 Division was a three way tie for third place between Will Sharpe from Pooler, GA, Josh Farmer from Hollis, NH, and Jimmy Morton from Sugar Grove, IL with scores of 156 each. All three finishers had a legitimate chance at finishing at the top the leaderboard, after each competitor posted scores in the 70’s on Saturday. With six players finishing within six strokes of each other, it is clear that competition is not lacking in the oldest boys division.   Boys 14-15 Division

The Boys 14-15 Division consisted of 14 players all capable of posting a low score during either day. The Champion of the Boys 14-15 age group came into the second round of the event four strokes behind the current leader after shooting a first round 83. Perhaps feeling more freedom to be aggressive on Sunday, first place finisher Ethan Hall from Morehead City, NC, responded with a second round 77 to secure the victory. Hall was forced to wait for the first day leaders scores to be posted before finding out he would take home the first place trophy. Taking the second spot was AJ Gilpin from Norwell, MA, who finished just one stroke back of the leader after posting an 84 Saturday and 77 Sunday for a two day total of 161. Gilpin started off hot on a 8 hole par streak but in the end, ran into trouble on the 3 of the final 4 holes. After leaving a few chances out on the course, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gilpin walk away with the first place trophy in any future events he competes in. Wrapping up the Boys 14-15 division leaders with a third place finish from Centreville, VA was Tanner Koons. Koons finished the tournament with 3 birdies over the course of the event but struggled to find his rhythm come the final stretch Sunday. A strong Boys 14-15 Division provided excitement for all spectators during the two day event.   Boys 11-13 Division

The Boys 11-13 Division provided many highlight moments over the weekend, including a chip in birdie from the sand of 18 by Grant Hutchinson and the lowest round of the event by any player in the field. Providing a majority of the excitement was your Boys 11-13 champion Gene Zeigler from Florence, SC. After taking a five stroke lead after the first round over his field, Zeigler did not show any signs of slowing day. After making the turn on Sunday, Zeigler’s scorecard featured four birdies and no bogeys to put him at a 4 under 32. He would go onto make three more birdies on the back nine and finish the round with a one under 71, the only round under par for the event. Finishing in second place from Aiken, SC was Colt Ingram. Ingram posted a two day total of 164, which featured two birdies during his second round Sunday. After struggling with the colder, windier conditions Saturday, Ingram showed that he could compete come Sunday. Coming in third place from Radford, VA was Trevor Price, who finished with a two day of 166 after posting back to back 83’s. Much like Ingram, Price found his game come Sunday and posted a birdie on 5 as well as on 9. If it were not for one hole, Price may have found himself walking away with the second place trophy. As we get later into the season and the weather improves, scores in this division will drop. Boys U10 Division

The Boys U10 division featured one player this weekend, who was paired with players from the Boys 11-13 division for both rounds this weekend. Despite being the only player in his division, Gavin Hutchinson from Myrtle Beach, SC, did not mind competing with the older players in his group and provided smiles and laughs for players and spectators throughout both days. Hutchinson showed incredible talent for being just 9 years old, as was seen with a chip in par on the par 5 number 12 during the second round of the event to help him secure the first place trophy. With so many years to improve an already impressive golf game, early expectations are high for the youngest of the Hutchinson brothers.    

Weather March 4th and 5th, 2017

Round 1: Low 35, High 50. Sunny, Cloudy and Windy

Round 2: Low 40, High 55. Sunny with clouds

Tournament Division Yardages

Boys 16-18: 6,587 yards

Boys 14-15: 6,587 yards

Boys 11-13: 5,663 yards

Boys U10: 5,059 yards