Kolton Lapa blasts a tee shot down the fairway during his victory at Wigwam.
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Kolton Lapa played the final seven holes in 4-under-par to pull out a one-shot victory over Carter Irwin to win the GJT West Region event at Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa.
Lapa built a three-shot lead with a solid 1-over-par 73 during a cold first round where no player broke par. In the final round Irwin made his charge as Lapa struggled early in the day with three straight bogies then a double bogey at the eighth.
When Lapa stumbled at the eighth, Irwin drew even for the first time then grabbed the lead at the par-3 11th as Lapa triple bogeyed. That would be Lapa’s final mistake of the event as he went on a tear starting with a birdie at the par-4 12th.
Trailing by one stroke, Lapa carded eagle at the par-5 14th to regain the lead before Irwin’s birdie at the 16th put the two tied again with two holes to play. Lapa birdied the par-4 17th to move on top to stay while Irwin pared in.
Lapa finished with rounds of 73-75—148 while Irwin came in at 76-73—149 for sole possession of second. Jino Sohn carded rounds of 78-74—152 for third place and was followed by Cole Cunningham at 76-77—153.
Jack McDevitt rounded out the top five with rounds of 77-77—154.
Miller’s 71 good for win in Boys 13-15
Jeffery Miller shot the only sub-par round of the event at Wigwam with a final-round 71 to beat Michael Alvarez by three shots in the Boys 13-15 division.
Miller and Alvarez separated themselves from the rest of the field by each shooting 74 the first round to set up a two-player duel. Miller was a model of consistency and that made the difference in defeating Alvarez.
Miller notched 15 pars in the final round combined with birdies at the first and 14th holes and a lone bogey at the par-3 sixth. In stark contrast to Miller, Alvarez managed to throw five birdies on his card, but they were offset with five bogeys and a double bogey at that menacing sixth hole.
Miller, who won last year’s GJT season-opener at Francisco Grande and placed second five times, finished with rounds of 74-71—145 in earning the victory. Alvarez finished three shots back at 74-74—148.
Colton Gage shot 78-83—161 to finish alone in third place and was followed by Teddy Oitzman (82-81—163) and Jackson Whisenhunt (80-86—166).
Nam beats Klingelberg in playoff for Boys 11-12 title
Mason Nam made par on the first playoff hole to beat Riley Klingelberg in the Boys 11-12 division at Wigwam.
Klingelberg, who won the season-opening event at Carlton Oaks, was looking to make it 2-for-2 but Nam’s three-birdie performance in the final round was enough to catch Klingelberg in the final round and force the playoff. The most significant stretch of holes came from 13 through 16 where Nam forced a three-shot swing in his favor. Klingelberg made bogey at the par-4 13th while Nam notched back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15.
Nam finished with rounds of 84-78—162 while Klingelberg finished at 83-79—162.
Please click HERE to watch video interviews with the winning players.