James in charge at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Matthew James fired rounds of 73-69—142 to pull out a 1-shot victory over Baz Furry in the Boys 16-19 division at the Warren Course of Notre Dame.

James began the final round one shot behind leader Drew Sagrillo and among a group of 10 players all within just four shots of the lead.

After an early bogey, James steadied his game, notching birdies at 5, 8, 10 and 11 before making his next bogey at the 16th.

Through the first 11 holes Sunday, Sagrillo appeared on track to claim the victory as he had played bogey free up to the point with birdies at 2 and 10. Three bogeys over the next five holes and finally a triple bogey at the last relegated Sagrillo to a tie for third at 72-75—147.

Furry was sensational the final round but had too much ground to gain. He posted consecutive birdies at 4, 5 and 6 then later birdied the 10th to move near the top of the leader board. His first bogey came at the 11th, but he rebounded with a birdie at 12 before making pars the rest of the way and claiming sole possession of second place at 76-67—143.

Tied for third with Sagrillo was Luke Mattingly, who fired rounds of 75-72—147 when Ben Szklarek rounded out the top five with rounds of 74-74—148.

Leyerle earns first GJT win in Girls 15-19

Sydney Leyerle shot 78-79—157 and held off a hard-charging Ellie Sonne by one shot to win the Girls 15-19 division at Notre Dame.

The victory was Lyerle’s first in three appearances on the GJT.

Leyerle led Iris Shin by four shots heading into the final round while Sonne found herself six shots off the pace. Leyerle struggled on the outgoing nine and had lost her advantage by the turn to the inward nine. She then played the next five holes in 1-under-par to regain the lead and had only Sonne to worry about.

Sonne was four shots back with four to play then finished par-par-birdie-par to put the pressure on Leyerle, who managed to play the final three holes in just 1-over-par to secure the victory.

Sonne finished with rounds of 84-74—155 for sole possession of second place while Shin shot 82-78—160 and shared third place with Carly Whittington (84-76—160).

Sluzas parlays eagle into Boys 14-15 victory

Benjamin Sluzas’ eagle at the par-4 8th helped him to rally to a narrow victory over Satchell Pierce in the Boys 14-15 division at Notre Dame.

The eagle came in the middle of an amazing run for Sluzas, who in a 7-hole stretch from 4 to 10 posted three birdies, an eagle and three pars. That 5-under-par stretch of holes helped Sluzas overcome a 3-shot deficit and put him in the lead.

A double bogey at the 12th was cause for concern, but Sluzas played mistake-free the rest of the way including a birdie at the 17th. Sluzas posted rounds of 74-69—143 for his first GJT win in four tries.

Pierce, the leader after the first round, fell back with bogeys at 3, 4, 10 and 11 before righting the ship the rest of the way. Over the final seven holes, Pierce went bogey-free with a birdie himself at the 17th. He finished at 71-73—144 for sole possession of second place.

Kash Bellar (79-70—149) and Ben Burgan (74-75—149) shared third place while Lorenzo Pinili rounded out the top five with scores of 76-76—152.

Cesare wins Boys 13-and-Under by four strokes

Alec Cesare posted rounds of 75-76—151 and went wire-to-wire for a 4-shot victory over Brady Smith in the Boys 13-and-under division at Notre Dame.

The victory was Cesare’s second on the GJT in 11 appearances.

In the opening round, Cesare posted no birdies but was steady enough with 14 pars to take a 4-shot lead over Smith. In the final round, Cesare notched his first birdie at the fifth and that helped him stretch the lead to six and no one would come any closer than three shots at the point.

Smith finished alone in second at 79-76—155 while Maverick Conaway (88-75—163) and Gavin Hare (81-82—163) shared third-place honors.