Huntsville Junior Open
SYLACAUGA, Ala. — The Huntsville Junior Open, proudly hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, brought two days of tight battles, big momentum swings, and clutch performances to Farmlinks Golf Club at Pursell Farms. The rolling terrain, demanding approach angles, and fast, sloping greens tested every player who teed it up, producing a weekend defined by grit and breakthrough performances across all divisions.
In the Boys 16–18 division, Griffin Barnett of Carrollton, Georgia, delivered a steady and composed performance to finish at 1-under, the only player to break par for the tournament. His even-par round on Sunday was enough to fend off a surging Riley Gudgeon of Texas, who closed with a sharp 2-under to finish just two shots back at +1. A pair of players — Christian Riekhof and hometown competitor Wilson Schmitz — shared third at +2, followed by a deep and competitive mid-pack that underscored the difficulty of Farmlinks’ championship layout.
The Boys 14–15 field was controlled from start to finish by Banks O’Brien of Telluride, Colorado. O’Brien’s opening-day pace created a cushion that held through Sunday as he finished at 1-under, becoming the division’s lone red-number scorer. Behind him, Mason Walcott (+12) and Benjamin Lebensburger (+15) rounded out the top three, with the rest of the field battling a course that demanded pinpoint accuracy and patience.
Huntsville’s own Tucker Cole delivered the weekend’s hometown highlight, capturing the Boys 10–11 title at +17. Cole steadied himself after an early wobble to close with +9, navigating Farmlinks’ undulating greens with maturity beyond his age. Luke Stuart of Troy finished second at +35, grinding through the hillside layout with determination.
From start to finish, the Huntsville Junior Open highlighted everything that makes the HJGT one of the premier platforms in junior golf — national fields, demanding courses, high-stakes environments, and young athletes rising to the moment. Farmlinks once again proved to be a tough but fair test, producing champions who earned every shot of their victory.
boys 16-18
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SYLACAUGA, Ala. — The Boys 16–18 field delivered one of the most competitive battles of the weekend at the Huntsville Junior Open, where Griffin Barnett of Carrollton, Georgia, captured the title at 1-under par, becoming the only player in the division to finish in red figures.
Barnett closed with an even-par round to secure the victory, pairing disciplined course management with steady ball-striking on a Farmlinks layout that demanded precision from tee to green. His poise under pressure proved the difference as he held off a charging Riley Gudgeon of Carrollton, Texas, who fired a sharp 2-under final round to finish at +1, just two shots back.
A pair of players shared third at +2: Christian Riekhof of Starkville, Mississippi, who posted a strong 1-under on Sunday, and hometown competitor Wilson Schmitz of Huntsville, Alabama, who delivered a steady +2 finish despite the tightening leaderboard.
Rounding out the top five were Oliver Bean (Chattanooga, TN), Michael Collins (Gardendale, AL), and Sam Smith (Cedartown, GA), all finishing at +4 in one of the deepest mid-pack battles of the weekend.
Farmlinks rewarded aggressive shot-making but punished mistakes, and Barnett’s ability to stay composed while opponents surged around him ultimately secured a well-earned HJGT victory.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Griffin Barnett
-1 Total
No. 2 Rank
Riley Gudgeon
+1 Total
No. 3 Rank
Christian Riekhof
+2 Total
No. 3 Rank
Wilson Schmitz
+2 Total
boys 14-15
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SYLACAUGA, Ala. — The Boys 14–15 division at the Huntsville Junior Open was controlled from start to finish by Banks O’Brien, the standout from Telluride, Colorado, who closed out a commanding victory at 1-under par.
O’Brien posted a +2 final round, but his strong opening-day performance gave him all the cushion he needed as he became the only player in the division to finish under par. His ability to navigate the rolling elevation changes and tight scoring corridors at Farmlinks set him apart early and held firm through the final stretch.
Mason Walcott of Tyrone, Georgia, secured solo second at +12 after a +4 day, steadying his play on the back nine to stay comfortably clear of the rest of the field. Benjamin Lebensburger of Mountain Brook, Alabama, followed in third at +15, while Ethan Green (Vestavia Hills, AL) and Fisher Cole (Huntsville, AL) rounded out the top five at +23 and +24, respectively.
O’Brien’s performance showcased mature course management and the type of confident ball flight that thrives on a championship-style layout. His under-par finish stood tall on a weekend where Farmlinks demanded precision, patience, and nerve.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Banks OBrien
-1 Total
No. 2 Rank
Mason Walcott
+12 Total
No. 3 Rank
Benjamin Lebensburger
+15 Total
boys 10-11
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SYLACAUGA, Ala. — In the Boys 10–11 division, Tucker Cole of Huntsville, Alabama, delivered a gritty hometown performance to claim the division title at +17 for the weekend.
Cole battled through the challenging Farmlinks layout, finishing with a +9 final round that showcased his ability to stay composed in tough scoring conditions. His steadiness from tee to green and strong recovery play on the back nine allowed him to separate from the field and secure the top spot.
Luke Stuart of Troy, Alabama, closed at +35 after a +13 round, fighting through the demanding slopes and tight landing areas that Farmlinks is known for. His determination throughout the event earned him a well-deserved runner-up finish.
Cole’s victory highlighted his developing fundamentals and mental toughness, marking an impressive showing on one of the more challenging courses on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour schedule.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Tucker Cole
+17 Total
No. 2 Rank
Luke Stuart
+35 Total