Junior Golf Boys 16-18 Division

The Mission Resort + Club Junior Open delivered one of the most competitive finishes of the season, with the Boys 16–18 division turning into a true championship test at Mission Resort + Club. Known for its elevation changes, demanding green complexes, and holes that force commitment on every shot, the course asked players to manage risk rather than chase birdies. Scores reflected that reality all weekend. After two rounds, the leaderboard compressed at the top, with four players finishing tied at eleven over par. The tournament was ultimately decided in a four-way playoff, where Vedansh Thandra Rao emerged victorious. Rao’s performance stood out not because it was flawless, but because it was resilient. After opening with a strong 75 and slipping to an 80 in the second round, he reset, handled the pressure, and delivered when the tournament demanded it most. That ability to respond under pressure is exactly what Mission Resort exposes. Behind the playoff, the field stayed tightly grouped, with very little separation despite two full rounds. Players who tried to force the course were quickly punished, while those who stayed disciplined gave themselves chances late. Fairways mattered, angles into greens mattered even more, and putting from the wrong tier often turned pars into bogeys. It was not a venue where momentum came easily. From a competitive standpoint, this event reinforced why Mission Resort + Club continues to be a staple championship venue for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. The course rewards patience, exposes decision-making, and creates finishes that feel earned rather than manufactured. For this field, the weekend was less about chasing low numbers and more about managing adversity, staying composed, and proving who could close when it mattered most.

The Lanier Islands Junior Open delivered a tightly contested weekend at Legacy on Lanier Golf Club, a venue that consistently rewards disciplined ball-striking and punishes lapses in focus. Framed by Lake Lanier and routed through rolling North Georgia terrain, the course played firm and demanding, placing a premium on positioning off the tee and controlled approach play into well-defended greens. In the Boys 16–18 division, the leaderboard reflected the grind required to score at Legacy. Pierce Grant and Griffin Lyell finished tied at +13 after two rounds, forcing a playoff that capped an intense battle built on patience rather than low numbers. Lyell ultimately prevailed in the playoff, handling the pressure and closing when it mattered most. Just behind them, Davis Blackmon and Ethan Shenk stayed firmly in contention throughout the weekend, while a deep field of regional and national players found the course quick to expose mistakes. Legacy on Lanier asked hard questions all weekend. Tee shots that missed preferred angles made scoring difficult, and the greens demanded touch and commitment, especially as conditions tightened late in the round. The course did exactly what it is known for—separating players who could manage the moment from those chasing the course. By bringing the event to this venue, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour once again reinforced its competitive standard. This was not a shootout; it was a test. Players who succeeded showed composure, course management, and the ability to close under pressure—traits that translate directly to the next level of competitive junior and collegiate golf.