Ace ignites McDermott victory

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Evan McDermott aced the ninth hole Sunday at the Warren Course at Notre Dame to help lift him to a 1-shot victory in the Boys 16-19 division.

McDermott fired rounds of 72-70—142 and need that hole-in-one as Mark Civanich was making a strong final-round charge. He trailed three players by two shots heading into the final round then played the first eight holes in even-par to stay in contention. When he aced the ninth, McDermott grabbed the outright lead.

Meanwhile, Civanich, who opened with a 76, joined the fray with birdies at 2 and 6 then an eagle-3 at the par-5 10th. He would play the rest of the way in even-par to force McDermott into a strong finish of his own.

McDermott posted two bogeys and a double bogey on the closing nine, but offset those with birdies at 10, 14 and 17 to ensure the win, his first in three attempts on the GJT.

Civanich placed alone in second at 76-67—143 while Josh Yoder took third with rounds of 70-74—144. Noah Wolfe shot 70-76—146 for sole possession of fourth place while Josh Gaughan rounded out the top five at 78-70—148.

Alexander dominates Girls 15-19

Sophia Alexander shot 79-78—157 to run away with the Girls 15-19 title at Notre Dame.

Alexander built a 4-shot lead after the opening round the carded five straight pars to open her round Sunday in creating more distance between her and the field. Her 38 on the outgoing nine pushed her lead to eight shots and she would never look back.

Lilly Gentzkow finished alone in second place with rounds of 86-81—167 while Eleanor Hudepohl took third at 83-86—169.

Long takes 3-shot win in Boys 14-15

Michael Long carded 16 pars in the final round to nail down a 3-shot victory in the Boys 14-15 division at Notre Dame.

Long, who won at Beavercreek last month, posted rounds of 77-73—150 to hold off Ray Filter who was on his heels much of the final round.

Long overtook first-round leader Brody McCarthy early in the final round and had to deal with Filter who was just one shot back. After Long made bogey at the 12th to return to just a 1-shot lead he made all pars the rest of the way to keep Filter at bay.

Filter finished alone in second with rounds of 79-74—153 while McCarthy took third at 76-80—156.

Cesare rallies in Boys 13-and-Under

Jake Cesare overcame a 4-shot deficit in the final round to emerge victorious in the Boys 13-and-under division at Notre Dame.

Cesare fired rounds of 78-73—151 to beat Leo Wessell by two shots and earn his first GJT win in four appearances.

Cesare trailed Wessell by four strokes then made up three shots over the first three holes that included a birdie at the third. With the deficit back to four shots heading to the inward nine, Cesare posted birdies at 10 and 13 that brought him back to within one.

Cesare made par on four of the final five holes and that was good enough to overtake Wessell.

Wessell finished alone in second with rounds of 74-79—153 while John Creamean took third place at 78-76—154.