Major Championship at Ocotillo Golf Resort
May 7-8, 2016
On Thurs., May 5, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour traveled to Chandler, Ariz., to host the Major Championship at Ocotillo Golf Resort. With great weather in the forecast, the kids were ready to make their mark on the tour’s first Major Championship in Arizona. The weather for the tournament days could not have been better. Saturday’s weather was sunny with a breeze, which made for a great way to start out the tournament. The weather stayed the same on Sunday, making it beautiful for some golf. The HJGT would like to thank the Ocotillo staff for allowing us to host our Major Championship at a great venue. Division winners of this event received invitations to the HJGT National Championship on Dec. 3-4, and the top three in each division received invitations to the HJGT Druh Belts Mid Season Invitational on June 11-13. Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking was awarded to all boys and girls 14-18.
Boys 16-18 Division
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Ben Lorenz[/caption]
Ben Lorenz of Peoria, Ariz., took home the first place trophy for the Boys 16-18 division. The 14-year-old played up a division and shot four-over-par for the tournament, taking first place after winning a playoff against Josh Farmer of Naples, Fla. Lorenz (73-73) held off a three-stroke comeback by Farmer, who posted the low round of the division with a 70 on Sunday. Both closed strong on the back nine on Sunday in posting one-under-par scores of 34. Taking third place out of 12 in the division was Ben’s 16-year-old brother, Blake (75-75, +8). The division’s birdie leader was Blake Lorenz with nine. Farmer had the longest bogey-free streak at 10 holes.
Boys 14-15 Division
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Beau Reutter[/caption] Beau Reutter of Phoenix, Ariz., went home with the first place trophy in the Boys 14-15 division. Reutter shot four-over-par for the tournament, a score that would have also tied for the lead in the Boys 16-18 division that played from the same yardages. Reutter cashed in on his second win in as many starts on the HJGT thanks to scores of 74 and 72. There was a two-way tie for second place out of eight in the division between Arizonans Jackson Stugart of Scottsdale and Tanner Pixley of Phoenix, who both fired rounds of 78 and 79. Along with his victory, Reutter was the division’s birdie leader with six and had the longest bogey-free streak at 15 between rounds one and two.
Boys 11-13 Division
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Jack Homer[/caption] Jack Homer of Scottsdale, Ariz., took home the top prize in the Boys 11-13 division. Homer posted rounds of 77 and 72 to cruise to an eight-stroke victory at seven-over-par. Rylan Johnson of Gilbert, Ariz., took second place out of five after rounds of 82 and 75. Rounding out the top three was Mikey Russello of Scottsdale, Ariz., with consecutive rounds of 82. Homer led the division with seven birdies and had a six-hole bogey free streak to finish on Sunday.
Boys 10U Division
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Riley Wortman[/caption] Riley Wortman of Queen Creek, Ariz., found the winner’s circle for the Boys 10 and under division. Wortman claimed his third HJGT victory thanks to stellar rounds of 75 and 80 to finish 38 strokes clear of the other competitor in the division, Ryan Johnson of Scottsdale, Ariz. (101-92). The 2nd place trophy goes to Ryan Johnson of Scottsdale, AZ. Wortman had two total birdies and a bogey-free streak of seven.
Girls 14-18 Division
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Madeleine Laux[/caption] The Girls 14-18 division was very competitive once again. The first-place and third-place finishers were only separated by five strokes. Madeleine Laux of Goodyear, Ariz., emerged from the pack to take the top prize after rounds of 78 and 76. After a pair of top-fives on tour, the third time was the charm in claiming victory. Elizbaeth Caldarelli of Scottsdale, Ariz., finished four behind Laux’s pace with scores of 77 and 77. Caldarelli owned a one-stroke lead making the turn on Sunday, but a two-under-par 33 for Laux helped her cruise to victory. In third place of 15 was Breyana Matthews who carded rounds of 78 and 77. Laux was also the division’s birdie leader with four and had an 11-hole bogey free streak in round two.
Girls 13U Division
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Gracie McGovern[/caption] Gracie McGovern of Scottsdale, Ariz., took home the first place trophy after shooting 16-over-par. McGovern avoided costly mistakes, carding only two double-bogeys en route to rounds of 81 and 77. Katie Stinchomb of Cave Creek, Ariz., trailed by nine and posted scores of 82 and 85. In third place out of four was Kyla Wilde of Phoenix, Ariz., who tallied scores of 82 and 86. McGovern also led the division with three birdies and a bogey-free streak of six.
Weather for May 7-8, 2016
Round 1: Low 53, High 77. Chilly Morning, Sunny Skies, Slight Breeze Round 2: Low 55, High 83. Chilly Morning, Sunny Skies, Slight Breeze
Tournament Division Yardages
Boys 16-18: 6,612 Yards Boys 14-15: 6,612 Yards Girls 14-18: 5,761 Yards Boys 11-13: 5,761 Yards Girls 13U: 5,136 Yards Boys 10U: 4,899 Yards