West Atlanta Fall Junior Open
Carrollton, GA — The West Atlanta Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, brought together some of the region’s most promising young golfers for an intense weekend of competition at Oak Mountain Golf Club. Across multiple divisions, players battled shifting conditions, firm greens, and the pressure of championship play — and the results didn’t disappoint.
In the Boys 16–18 Division, hometown standout Griffin Barnett of Carrollton, GA, thrilled the local crowd with a wire-to-wire win, firing rounds of 70–74 (E) to finish five strokes clear of the field. His consistency and calm demeanor underlined a weekend of mature, composed golf.
John Thornton of Newnan, GA, captured the Boys 14–15 title, carding a steady 75–77 (+8) to stay ahead of a strong field. In the Boys 12–13 Division, Mason Yi of Peachtree Corners, GA, turned in one of the best rounds of the event — a brilliant final-round 72 (E) — to storm back and secure victory.
On the girls’ side, Reese Powell of Birmingham, AL, impressed with a total of 157 (+13) to claim the Girls 14–18 title, while Brynn Mason of Scaly Mountain, NC, continued her dominant play in the Girls U13 Division, winning by a comfortable margin at 152 (+8).
From powerful drives to clutch putts, this weekend’s event captured everything the HJGT stands for — fierce competition, sportsmanship, and the relentless pursuit of improvement. As the 2025 fall season heats up, the West Atlanta Fall Junior Open proved once again why the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour remains the stage where the next generation of champions is forged.
boys 16-18
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Carrollton, GA — Griffin Barnett of Carrollton, GA, made his hometown proud with a composed and confident victory in the Boys 16–18 Division at the West Atlanta Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour at Oak Mountain Golf Club.
Barnett opened the tournament with a strong 2-under 70, showcasing poise on his home course and a steady hand on the greens. Despite tougher conditions in the final round, his 74 (+2) was enough to seal the win and finish even par (144) for the weekend — five shots clear of the field.
Tied for second at 149 (+5) were Davis Moore of Woodstock, GA, and Matthew Runckel of Alpharetta, GA. Moore came out hot with an opening 70 before a rougher Sunday slowed his pace, while Runckel’s sharp even-par 72 final round earned him a share of second.
Rounding out the top performers, Jackson Herrick of Social Circle, GA, finished fourth at 150 (+6), and Minjun Choi of Sandy Springs, GA, tied Grant Edens of Milledgeville, GA, for fifth at 153 (+9).
Barnett’s win was a complete display of control — from strategic course management to mental toughness. Competing in front of a familiar crowd, he stayed focused under pressure, capping off a memorable weekend that highlighted his potential as one of Georgia’s top junior talents on the HJGT circuit.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Griffin Barnett
E Total
No. 2 Rank
Davis Moore
+5 Total
No. 2 Rank
Matthew Runckel
+5 Total
boys 14-15
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Carrollton, GA — John Thornton of Newnan, GA, delivered a composed and consistent performance to take home the Boys 14–15 Division title at the West Atlanta Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, finishing at 152 (+8) over two rounds at Oak Mountain Golf Club.
Thornton opened with an impressive 75 on Saturday, setting the early pace with precise ball striking and confident putting. He followed with a 77 in the final round, holding off the field and displaying the calm under pressure needed to close out a wire-to-wire victory.
Slade Brawner of Acworth, GA, earned runner-up honors at 166 (+22), showing flashes of strong play throughout the weekend, while Benny Street of Suwanee, GA, finished close behind in third at 169 (+25).
Thornton’s ability to maintain control of his game through changing conditions was the difference, as he continued to build momentum with every hole. His performance not only secured the win but also reinforced his reputation as one of Georgia’s top rising junior golfers on the HJGT circuit.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
John Thornton
+8 Total
No. 2 Rank
Slade Brawner
+22 Total
No. 3 Rank
Benny Street
+25 Total
boys 12-13
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Carrollton, GA — Mason Yi of Peachtree Corners, GA, delivered a masterclass comeback on Sunday to win the Boys 12–13 Division at the West Atlanta Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, finishing with a total score of 161 (+17) at Oak Mountain Golf Club.
After opening with an 89 on Saturday, Yi stormed back in spectacular fashion, firing an even-par 72 in the final round — one of the best rounds of the tournament across all divisions. His flawless ball striking, confidence off the tee, and composed putting under pressure fueled the turnaround, propelling him from behind to a commanding seven-stroke victory.
Jack Reynolds of Atlanta, GA, finished runner-up at 168 (+24) after rounds of 89–79, while Josiah Hardee of Alpharetta, GA, took third at 172 (+28). Garrett Saylor of Cumming, GA, rounded out the field in fourth at 200 (+56).
Yi’s dominant Sunday performance was a statement of resilience and focus, embodying the competitive spirit of the HJGT. His ability to rebound from a tough first day and finish strong underscored the poise of a player quickly emerging as one to watch in the junior ranks.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Mason Yi
+17 Total
No. 2 Rank
Jack Reynolds
+24 Total
No. 3 Rank
Josiah Hardee
+28 Total
girls 14-18
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Carrollton, GA — Reese Powell of Birmingham, AL, delivered a steady, confident performance to claim the Girls 14–18 Division title at the West Atlanta Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, finishing with a two-day total of 157 (+13) at Oak Mountain Golf Club.
Powell set the pace early with an opening-round 77, relying on her consistency off the tee and disciplined short game. Despite tougher scoring conditions on Sunday, she held firm with an 80 to secure a five-shot victory over Lisa Zhang of Alpharetta, GA, who climbed the leaderboard with a closing 78 to finish second at 162 (+18).
Lora Prince of Madison, AL, rounded out the top three at 166 (+22) after an up-and-down weekend that showcased flashes of strong play, while Paige LaRocco of Phoenix, AZ, finished fourth at 189 (+45).
Powell’s win marked a commanding display of control and composure, as she navigated Oak Mountain’s challenging greens and elevation changes with maturity. Her victory added another highlight to a growing season of success on the HJGT circuit.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Reese Powell
+13 Total
No. 2 Rank
Lisa Zhang
+18 Total
No. 3 Rank
Lora Prince
+22 Total
girls 13 & under
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Carrollton, GA — Brynn Mason of Scaly Mountain, NC, delivered a composed and confident performance to capture the Girls U13 Division title at the West Atlanta Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, finishing with a two-day total of 152 (+8) at Oak Mountain Golf Club.
Mason opened with a stellar 73, setting the tone early with steady play and smart course management. Despite tougher conditions on Sunday, she closed with a 79, maintaining control of the leaderboard from start to finish.
Her balanced game — precise off the tee, sharp with her irons, and steady on the greens — showcased maturity beyond her years and marked one of the most impressive performances of the weekend.
Mason’s victory adds to her growing resume on the HJGT circuit, solidifying her reputation as one of the region’s top rising young players and a name to watch in future events.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Brynn Mason
+8 Total