HJGT Results

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The Myrtle Beach Holiday Classic delivered a demanding late-season test at Barefoot Resort and Golf, where firm greens, shifting coastal breezes, and strategic sightlines required patience and precision across two competitive rounds. When the weekend concluded, Gavin Hutchinson emerged as the most resilient player in the Boys 16–18 field, navigating the challenge to secure the title on home turf. Hutchinson, representing Myrtle Beach, opened with a steady 79 before grinding through a tough closing round of 82 to finish at +17, holding off a tightly packed leaderboard that remained in flux until the final holes. On a course that punished missed fairways and tested touch around the greens, his ability to manage momentum proved decisive. Close behind, Roane Taylor of Daniel Island applied pressure throughout the championship, following an opening-round 76 with an 86 to finish one shot back at +18. Landon Heers rounded out the top three at +19, highlighting the depth of the field as multiple players hovered within striking distance deep into Sunday. Barefoot Resort demanded disciplined course management, particularly as conditions firmed and the margin for error narrowed. Players were forced to commit to conservative lines off the tee and precise approaches into greens that offered few easy recoveries. The leaderboard reflected that reality, with steady execution rewarded and aggressive mistakes quickly magnified. As part of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour holiday schedule, the Myrtle Beach Holiday Classic once again provided a championship-caliber environment for junior competitors. The venue tested every facet of the game—physical, technical, and mental—offering players a meaningful benchmark as they closed out the year. For Hutchinson, the victory was defined not by flashes of brilliance, but by composure under pressure on a course that demanded respect. It was a fitting conclusion to a weekend where Barefoot Resort reaffirmed its status as a true proving ground for elite junior golf competition.

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — The Marco Island Holiday Junior Open unfolded across two demanding days at The Rookery at Marco Island, where coastal winds, narrow corridors, and exacting green complexes combined to produce a true test of championship golf. By Sunday afternoon, it was Ayden Gallen who stood atop the Boys 16–18 leaderboard, delivering the most complete performance of the week to secure the title. Gallen, competing out of Broomall, Pennsylvania, followed an opening-round 76 with a composed 71 to finish at +3, the only player in the field to break par in the final round. His ability to control ball flight and manage the ever-present risk off the tee proved decisive on a course that offered little forgiveness for aggressive lines. The margin, however, was slim. Max Cuticelli stayed within striking distance throughout the final round, matching Gallen’s 71 on Sunday to finish just one stroke back at +4. Henry Liebwein, who opened with a strong 72, remained in contention deep into the weekend before settling for third at +6, underscoring the depth and competitiveness of the field. Throughout the leaderboard, consistency was hard-earned. The Rookery’s strategic design demanded thoughtful decision-making on every shot, with coastal breezes amplifying the challenge and placing a premium on course management. Players who strayed from position often faced difficult recovery shots, while the firm, subtly contoured greens rewarded those with disciplined approaches and confident putting. The Boys 16–18 field reflected the national reach of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, drawing competitors from across the country and Canada to one of Florida’s most respected tournament venues. The result was a tightly contested championship where patience, resilience, and execution separated contenders from the rest. When the final putts dropped, Gallen’s steady approach and timely scoring under pressure defined the week. The Marco Island Holiday Junior Open once again delivered a championship-caliber test — one that challenged every facet of a player’s game and rewarded those willing to embrace the discipline required to succeed at the highest level of junior competition.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Holiday Classic delivered a fitting finish just days before Christmas, with two rounds of steady pressure and a playoff that ultimately decided the title at Celebration Golf Club. When it was over, Joseph Hansen stood alone, outlasting the field in extra holes to claim victory on a course that demanded patience, precision, and composure from start to finish. Hansen, playing his way through a tightly packed leaderboard, posted rounds of 78 and 72 to finish at +6, forcing a playoff with Christian Carlson after the two emerged from the final round tied atop the standings. Carlson had authored one of the tournament’s most impressive turnarounds, rebounding from an opening-round 82 with a brilliant second-round 68 — the lowest score of the weekend — to surge into contention and apply late pressure. But when the moment required one final answer, it was Hansen who delivered, closing out the playoff to secure the championship. Behind them, the chase was relentless. A group of four players finished just four shots back at +10, including Brady Durkin, Logan Larsen, Campbell Ryan, and Tyler Vincelli, each posting consistent play across both rounds to remain in the mix deep into Sunday. Mitchell Keene followed closely at +11, while the remainder of the field navigated a demanding setup that punished missed fairways and imprecise approaches. Celebration Golf Club proved to be an ideal stage for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, rewarding disciplined ball-striking and mental toughness rather than aggressive gambles. With subtle greens and positional demands off the tee, players were tested across all facets of their games — a fitting challenge for a late-season event drawing competitors from across the country. In the end, the Orlando Holiday Classic came down to execution under pressure, and Joseph Hansen delivered when it mattered most. As the HJGT calendar turns toward the new year, the performance served as a reminder that championships are often decided not by flashes of brilliance alone, but by resilience when the tournament reaches its defining moment.

The Kiawah Island Junior Open delivered a true championship test as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour brought the Boys 16–18 division to one of the most iconic coastal venues in the country, Kiawah Island Golf Resort. With winter winds, firm turf, and championship-level course setup, this weekend was less about chasing birdies and more about managing conditions, staying patient, and limiting mistakes. Kenley Welborn of Pink Hill, North Carolina emerged as the steady force of the tournament, posting rounds of 80 and 78 to finish at +14 and claim the outright victory. Welborn’s consistency across both days proved decisive, especially as the field battled fluctuating winds and demanding green complexes that punished aggressive lines. His closing 78 showed composure down the stretch and separated him from a tightly packed leaderboard. Roane Taylor of Daniel Island, South Carolina stayed in contention throughout the weekend and finished just one shot back at +15. Taylor followed a solid opening round with a challenging second day, but remained composed enough to secure second place on a course that rewarded discipline more than flash. The battle for third saw Andrew Cochran of Augusta, Georgia and Braden Collins of Summerville, South Carolina finish tied at +16. Cochran rebounded strongly with a second-round 78 after a tougher opening day, while Collins posted back-to-back rounds of 80, showcasing consistency in difficult scoring conditions. Depth across the leaderboard highlighted the strength of the field, with players traveling from across the country to compete on one of junior golf’s most respected stages. From Texas to Massachusetts to New Jersey, the Kiawah Island Junior Open once again reinforced its reputation as a proving ground where mental toughness matters just as much as ball striking. As the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour continues its winter championship stretch, the Kiawah Island Junior Open stood out as a reminder of what elite junior competition looks like when tradition, challenge, and opportunity collide. For the players in the Boys 16–18 division, this weekend wasn’t just another tournament—it was a test of resilience on a course that demands respect, and a valuable step forward in their competitive development.