HJGT Results

The Phoenix Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour at Orange Tree Golf Club, delivered a weekend of gritty shot-making, momentum swings, and pressure moments that tested every player who teed it up in the desert. In the Boys 16–18 division, Luke Haarer emerged as the steadier force in a field full of surges and setbacks, navigating two demanding rounds with veteran poise. His closing 71—one of the cleanest cards of the tournament—locked up an even-par finish and a statement victory as challengers like Kyler Besick and Owen Borggard mounted late charges that ultimately fell short. Haarer’s combination of discipline off the tee and confident putting separated him when the leaderboard tightened Sunday afternoon. Drama hit its peak in the Boys 14–15 division where the title required bonus golf. Parker Hutchison and Chase Kakel battled through two rounds of heavy turbulence, both finishing at +17 before heading into a sudden-death playoff. In the defining moment of the weekend, Kakel delivered the clutch swing when it mattered most, sealing the championship on the first extra hole after a composed Sunday 77 that shifted the momentum in his favor. Hutchison’s steady ball-striking kept him in contention all weekend, but Kakel’s playoff nerve ultimately wrote the headline. In the Boys 12–13 division, Dietrich Frost turned in one of the grittiest performances of the tournament. After a tough opening 102, Frost stormed back with a resilient 93, the best round of the division on Sunday, and his +51 total was enough to fend off Brody Giacoletti, who stayed within reach but couldn’t close the gap as Frost sharpened his game under pressure. On the girls’ side, the 14–18 field delivered a showcase of polished swings and competitive fire, but the story belonged to Lauren Murnan of Omaha. Her opening-round 73 set the tone early, and despite the breezy Sunday conditions producing an 81, she controlled the pace and never relinquished the top spot. Catherine Seder, Hayden Nguyen, and Gabriella Sanchez all surged at moments, but Murnan’s ability to minimize damage when the course demanded it defined her four-stroke victory. The younger girls followed with their own standout moment as Anabel Haas captured the Girls U13 title with a wire-to-wire performance. Her 86–89 showing at +31 underscored consistency and confidence beyond her years as she outpaced the field and stamped her place atop the leaderboard. From playoffs to comeback rounds to wire-to-wire wins, the Phoenix Junior Open once again highlighted the depth of talent rising through the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. Orange Tree Golf Club demanded precision, patience, and toughness—and the competitors delivered a weekend worthy of the spotlight.

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.

LILLINGTON, N.C. — The College Prep Series at Campbell University once again lived up to its reputation as one of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s most competitive and developmental stops, offering players a true collegiate-style test across the Orange and Black nines at Keith Hills Golf Course. Firm greens, demanding approach angles, and constant decision-making separated the field over two pressure-filled days as juniors from across the U.S. and around the globe battled for Campbell University honors. In the Boys 16–18 division, Charlie Leichtweis delivered the weekend’s defining performance. The Charlotte native fired a blistering 5-under final round to surge to 1-under overall, the only player to finish red-figure for the tournament. His ball-striking and control under pressure set a standard that resonated throughout the event, capturing the attention of college-level coaches and establishing him as a rising force on tour. Canada’s Abhay Minhas made a valiant run of his own, finishing second at +3, with Chet Kight rounding out the podium at +6. The Boys 14–15 division featured a commanding wire-to-wire win by Enzo Ord, who leaned on mature course management to finish at +10. Though Keith Hills pressed this age group from every direction, Ord’s steady play allowed him to separate decisively from Canadian runner-up Aiden Tong Lu and a deeper field trying to stay in striking distance. The Boys 12–13 division showcased grit from Shane Stepnicka, who finished at +22 to earn a hard-fought victory. His ability to navigate the trickiest scoring holes with discipline highlighted a young competitor quickly developing the traits needed for higher-level events. Vancouver’s Tristan Cui took second after continuing to battle through Sunday’s tightening conditions. A strong showing came in the Boys 10–11 field, where Rafael Dagenais of Quebec captured the title at +12 with a composed +8 closing round. He handled the nuances of the Orange/Black setup with confidence, pulling away from the field and reinforcing his trajectory as a promising emerging talent. On the girls’ side, Rikki Liu delivered a clutch performance to win the Girls 14–18 division at +21. The Vancouver standout closed with a sharp +5 round, edging out fellow Canadian Avva Nguyen by a single shot. Their duel brought welcome intensity to the final stretch, as both players demonstrated poise, patience, and shot-making that mirrored the collegiate environment the event is designed to emulate. Across every age group, the College Prep Series at Campbell University continued its tradition of preparing junior golfers for the next level — not only in competition, but in course preparation, mental management, and pressure execution. Keith Hills demanded complete games, and the players responded with resilience, discipline, and performances worthy of the HJGT stage. As the fall season approaches its close, this stop at Campbell University once again proved why it stands among the tour’s signature developmental events: a proving ground where future college golfers sharpen their edge, test their limits, and rise to the occasion.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Augusta, GA Junior Open, proudly hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, delivered a memorable weekend of competition at Bartram Trail Golf Club, where demanding greens, narrow corridors, and late-round pressure shaped every leaderboard. Across all divisions, players were pushed to find resilience, creativity, and composure as they battled for season-defining wins. In the Boys 16–18 division, Cooper Hawkins of Augusta, Georgia, rose to the moment on his home turf. His even-par finish locked up the title and made him the only player in the field to tame the layout across both days. Behind him, a tightly packed chase group—led by Costa Rica’s Alberto Aguilar and Michigan’s Winslow Robinson at +3—kept the pressure on, but Hawkins never relinquished control as he closed out a wire-to-wire victory. The Boys 14–15 division saw Brooks Sterner of Appling, Georgia, command the stage with a composed performance that carried him to an even-par total. Sterner’s ability to steady himself on approach shots proved decisive, separating him from a chasing pack that included Atlanta’s Alexander Halkos, who finished six back, and a cluster of contenders navigating one of the weekend’s more volatile leaderboards. In the Boys 10–11 field, Garrett Saylor of Cumming, Georgia, emerged from a tough battle with the course to claim division honors at +38. Though scoring proved difficult, Saylor’s willingness to grind through challenging stretches set the tone for a resilient win and showcased a young player with the mental discipline to keep improving. The Girls 14–18 division belonged to Phebe Reese of North Augusta, South Carolina, whose +18 finish earned her the title. Reese closed with a steady +7 round, fending off a late push from China’s Diana Gao and showing the kind of confident ball-striking that carried her cleanly through the finish line. South Africa’s Cindy Moreki claimed third after navigating difficult Sunday conditions. In Girls U13 play, Brynn Mason of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina, delivered one of the weekend’s most impressive closing rounds, posting +6 on Sunday to secure the title at +19. Her poised performance highlighted her rising potential as she continues to build momentum on the HJGT circuit. From start to finish, the Augusta, GA Junior Open showcased competitive depth across every age group. Players from across the country—and around the world—brought strong energy, precision, and grit to a course that demanded their absolute best. As the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour continues its fall slate, Augusta once again proved why it remains one of junior golf’s most meaningful battlegrounds: a place where talent emerges, champions rise, and the next generation of golfers sharpen their edge.