HJGT Results

The margin wasn’t small. The test wasn’t easy. At Links of Lake Mary, Zain Sadiq managed both. The Sanford, Florida native posted rounds of 86-85 to finish at +27 (171), capturing the Boys 12–13 division at the Central Florida Junior Open with consistency across both days. Lake Mary demands discipline off the tee. Water hazards influence decision-making on multiple holes, and approach shots require commitment to precise yardages. In this age group, avoiding the big number becomes the difference. Sadiq avoided it better than anyone. Giovanni DiGiacomo and Taylor Zubke tied for second at +49 (193), each battling through momentum swings over two rounds. DiGiacomo rebounded from a 101 on Saturday with a 92 on Sunday, showing resilience. Zubke opened with 94 before closing with 99. The leaderboard separation reflected the course’s influence. This was not a week for chasing flags. It was a week for learning positioning, patience, and recovery. Sadiq’s balanced 36-hole performance — improving by a shot on Sunday — proved enough. At Lake Mary, steady wins. And in the Boys 12–13 division, steady belonged to Sadiq.

At FarmLinks Golf Club at Pursell Farms, improvement wins championships. Wylie Preston showed it. The Auburn, Alabama native opened with an 83 before responding with a closing 77 to finish at +16 (160), capturing the Boys 12–13 division at the Birmingham Spring Junior Open. That six-shot improvement on Sunday told the story. FarmLinks presents elevation shifts, demanding carries, and green complexes that require precise distance control. For younger divisions, managing approach shots into tiered greens becomes the defining challenge. Preston adjusted to it. Garrett Saylor of Georgia finished second at +21 (165), posting consistent rounds of 84-81 to stay within range. Noah Cortner secured third at +42 (186), battling through a course that offered little forgiveness over 36 holes. The separation in the division reflected the course’s influence. Wind and firming greens made Sunday more tactical. Players who chased aggressive targets found difficult recoveries. Preston stayed disciplined, avoided the big number, and closed decisively. At FarmLinks, adapting matters. This weekend, Preston adapted best.

At Vanderbilt Legends Club, even the youngest division felt the pressure of extra holes. Nathaniel Miller embraced it. Miller and Franklin, Tennessee’s Grayson Kennedy finished tied at +28 (170), each posting identical rounds of 85-85 across 36 holes. The symmetry of their scorecards mirrored the tension on the leaderboard — neither player blinked over two days. That forced a playoff. And in sudden death, Miller delivered. On a course that rewards discipline over aggression, the playoff likely came down to positioning and patience — the same themes that defined the entire weekend. Vanderbilt Legends Club’s greens demand precise landing spots, and its subtle movement exposes tentative putts. Miller handled the moment. Sawyer Houser finished third at +31 (173), posting the low round of the division on Sunday with an 84. Ethan Huang and Kase Bransom rounded out the field, battling through a course that offered little forgiveness. The story wasn’t low scoring. It was composure. In a College Prep Series environment — where presentation and pressure mirror the collegiate level — two players proved nearly inseparable over regulation. In the end, one swing, one putt, and one composed decision made the difference. Miller walked away with the title. At Vanderbilt, that matters.

At Pinehurst Resort, age doesn’t soften the challenge. Grayson Lorz found that out — and answered it. The Oxbow, North Dakota native posted rounds of 78-83 to finish at +17 (161), capturing the Boys 12–13 division at the Pinehurst Junior Open presented by Srixon. His opening 78 set the tone — steady, controlled, and free of the kind of big numbers that Pinehurst’s run-off areas often create. Sunday proved more difficult. The 83 reflected just how quickly the course can demand adjustments, particularly around the greens where missed targets rarely settle close. But the damage was contained. Rory Berg of Ohio mounted the strongest challenge, finishing second at +23 (167) with rounds of 85-82. His improved Sunday round kept pressure on the leaderboard, but Pinehurst rarely allows large deficits to disappear entirely. Rowen Swisher secured third at +29 (173), followed by Dillon Parekh at +32. From there, the scoring gap widened — a reminder that Pinehurst tests more than ball striking. It tests decision-making. It tests patience. And for this age group, it accelerates competitive learning. Collection areas swallowed marginal approach shots. Greens demanded precise landing spots rather than aggressive flag hunting. Players who forced the issue found themselves scrambling repeatedly. Lorz didn’t force anything. He managed expectations, minimized mistakes, and avoided the one stretch that can undo a tournament at Pinehurst. In a division where consistency outweighed volatility, that discipline proved decisive. Winning at Pinehurst, at any age, carries weight. For Lorz, it’s an early marker — proof that composure travels.