HJGT Results

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Bo Moody delivered the most consistent performance in the Boys 12-13 division at the Hilton Head Junior Open, posting matching rounds of 77 to finish at 10-over 154 and claim the title at the Country Club of Hilton Head. In a division where the course continued to challenge players throughout the weekend, Moody separated himself by doing the simplest thing better than everyone else: he stayed steady. His back-to-back 77s gave him a 10-shot victory and made him the only player in the division to keep both rounds in the 70s. Wylkes Whitlow finished second at 20-over 164 after rounds of 83 and 81, while Coleman Stanley took third at 24-over 168 with an eight-shot improvement in the final round after opening with an 88. Sammy Stanley placed fourth at 25-over 169, and Graves Boyd rounded out the top five at 26-over 170. The Boys 12-13 division turned into another test of patience at the Country Club of Hilton Head, where clean scorecards were hard to find and momentum could shift quickly. Moody never gave that momentum away. While the field battled to recover from mistakes, he stayed in control across both rounds and turned consistency into separation. Lucas Roodt finished sixth at 29-over 173, Wyatt Novak placed seventh at 41-over 185, and Jack Christon finished eighth at 72-over 216. Moody’s win added another composed championship effort to the weekend for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, as the Hilton Head Junior Open continued to reward the players who managed the course, stayed disciplined, and handled two days of pressure the best.

In a division where volatility often defines the leaderboard, Kairi Matsumoto brought steadiness. At Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club, the Funabashi, Japan native opened with a 75 and followed with a composed 74 to finish at +5 (149), capturing the Boys 12–13 title at the Tampa Bay Junior Open. Heritage Isles rewards discipline. Water guards key landing zones, and approach shots demand precise distance control into subtly contoured greens. For younger players, course management becomes the separator. Matsumoto managed it better than anyone. Jett Billy of Bradenton made the strongest push, closing with a 74 to secure solo second at +11 (155). Christian Lee finished third at +16 (160), while Ace Lowie placed fourth at +26 (170). The winning difference wasn’t a single stretch of birdies. It was consistency. Matsumoto avoided the big number that often appears on water-framed holes and kept momentum through both rounds. In a field that included international representation and cross-country travel, his ability to stay steady under tournament conditions proved decisive. At Heritage Isles, precision wins. This weekend, it belonged to Matsumoto.

At Lonnie Poole Golf Course, even the youngest division felt the weight of extra holes. Shane Stepnicka delivered when it mattered most. Stepnicka and Coleman Stanley finished tied at +28 (172), forcing a playoff to decide the Boys 12–13 title at the College Prep Event at NC State. Both players battled through two demanding rounds on a course that rarely yields easy scoring. Elevated greens, tightly mown runoff areas, and shifting wind conditions made distance control critical. Miss on the wrong tier, and recovery quickly became defensive. Stanley opened with an 83 before posting an 89 in Round 2. Stepnicka countered with rounds of 85-87, holding steady enough to match the clubhouse mark. That set the stage for sudden death. In the playoff, Stepnicka executed. One more hole. One composed swing. One decisive finish. Remington Faunce finished just one shot back at +29 (173), while Lee Phillips followed at +30. The leaderboard remained compressed at the top before widening as Lonnie Poole continued to challenge aggressive play. This wasn’t a scoring showcase. It was a composure test. At a collegiate venue designed to simulate next-level conditions, learning to manage pressure — and then winning in a playoff — carries weight. Stepnicka handled both. At NC State, that was enough.

At Hermitage Golf Club, the test is straightforward: keep the ball in position and limit mistakes. Grayson Sanford did enough of both. The Lebanon, Tennessee native posted rounds of 88-90 to finish at +34 (178), capturing the Boys 12–13 division at the Nashville Junior Shootout. Hermitage demands disciplined tee shots into fairways that set up controlled approaches. Greens are receptive but require proper speed control. In this division, minimizing penalty strokes and avoiding compounding mistakes became the deciding factor. Sanford maintained enough stability across 36 holes to separate himself. The story wasn’t about low scoring. It was about resilience on a course that asks for focus from the opening tee shot through the final putt. At Hermitage, steady play earns results. This weekend, Sanford earned it.