Houston, Wenzler on top in Lexington
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Peyton Houston fired rounds of 67-68—135 to run away from the field in the Boys 16-19 division at Kearney Hill Golf Links.
The victory was Houston’s first in eight GJT events going back to last season and earned him an exemption into the IMG Junior World Championships at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif.
Houston holed out for an eagle-2 on No.6 during the first round and that ignited his round following two early bogeys. He finished the round with a 3-shot lead over Adam Bratton and never fell behind the rest of the way.
In the final round, Houston stumbled to a bogey on the opening hole then reeled off birdies at 3, 6, 7 and 8 to put himself well out of reach of the field.
Pierce Grieve shot 71-70—141 to claim sole possession of second place while Bratton took third with rounds of 70-71—142.
Rounding out the top five were Jared DeVille (74-69—143) and Drew Salyers (72-71—143).
Wotherspoon wins Boys 14-15 with final-hole birdie
Rylan Wotherspoon birdied the last hole to cap an up-and-down final round in winning the Boys 14-15 division at Kearney Hill by one shot over Jackson Finney.
Wotherspoon trailed Finney by three shots entering the final round and had pulled even after the opening nine holes. Wotherspoon made double bogey at his 10th and sandwiched two bogeys between two birdies over the next five holes. Two more pars and the birdie at the last carried Wotherspoon as Finney closed bogey-par-par.
Wotherspoon finished at 75-73—148 while Finney shot 72-77—149 for sole possession of second place.
Ryan O’Rourke shot 74-76—150 for third place while Shoji Fujita came in fourth with rounds of 74-77—151.
Wenzler wins playoff in Girls 15-19
Marissa Wenzler birdied the first playoff to defeat Hailey Katona in the Girls 15-19 division at the UK Club Big Blue Course.
Wenzler started the final round two shots behind Katona and took a one shot lead after Katona made four bogeys through the first seven holes. Through 14 holes, the two players were even before Katona’s birdie at the 15th engineered a 2-shot swing in her favor.
Wenzler would par the final three holes while Katona made bogey at 16 and 17 to set up the playoff.
In regulation, Wenzler shot 73-75—148 while Katona finished at 71-77—148. Faith Martin shot 77-75—152 for sole possession of third place. A trio of players tied for fourth place: Annaliese Fox (77-77—154), Abby Theilbar (77-77—154) and Faith Johnson (74-80—154).
Brown steamrolls field in Girls 14-and-Under
Macie Brown fired rounds of 76-73—149 for an 11-shot wire-to-wire victory in the Girls 14-and-under division at the UK Club.
The victory was Brown’s third in four GJT events this season.
She carried just a 2-shot lead into the final round and posted three birdies on a Sunday when no other player was able to break 80.
Kate Brody took second place with rounds of 79-81—160 while Jenna Estravillo claimed third place at 79-82—161.
Jones claims narrow win in Boys 13-and-Under
Ieujan Jones shot 75-74—149 to beat Cameron Phillips by one shot in the Boys 13-and-under division at the UK Club.
Jones trailed Phillips by one shot entering the final round and remained there until Phillips made a double bogey at his 11th hole. With Jones now leading by one, both players each post one birdie and one bogey the rest of the way in keeping the order intact.
Marcus Lee shot 77-74—151 to finish in a tie for third place with Warren Thomis (77-74—151).