Hoskins claims Boys overall title at Purgatory

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – Callen Hoskins fired rounds of 68-70—138 in coming from the Boys 14-15 division and claimed the Boys overall title at Purgatory Golf Club.

With the victory, Hoskins earned an automatic exemption into the IMG Academy Junior World Championship.

The victory was Hoskins’ first in three appearances on the GJT and came with six birdies in a frenetic final round. After he carded six birdies in his opening-round of 4-under-par he led the overall boys event by two shots then made bogey on the starting hole Sunday.

Hoskins rebounded with birdies at 2 and 4 to maintain his lead, which would not be in jeopardy despite four bogeys in the final round.

For the overall title, Griffin Hare gave the strongest chase at 70-70—140, which was good enough to earn the victory in the Boys 16-19 division.

Among the Boys 14-15 division, P.J. Maybank shot 72-70—142 to claim sole possession of second place while Maverick Conaway placed third at 71-76—147.

Ray Filter shot 77-71—148 to take fourth place while Joe Sawyer rounded out the top five with scores of 76-74—150.

Hare tops Boys 16-19 field

Griffin Hare played the final 16 holes in bogey-free 3-under-par to pull out a 1-shot victory over Clay Stirsman and Nic Hoffman in the Boys 16-19 division at Purgatory.

The victory marked Hare’s first of the season and fourth overall on the GJT.

Hare shot 70-70—140 and entered the final round tied for the lead with Hoffman. After a bogey at the second, Hare played flawlessly the rest of the way Sunday. He took the outright lead with a birdie at the fourth then added to it with another birdie at 8.

Hoffman stayed on Hare’s heels with no mistakes following a bogey at the first hole, but he managed just birdies at 6 and 10 the rest of the way.

Stirsman started the final round one shot behind and gave chase with a strong finish that included two birdies over the final four holes.

Hoffman shot 70-71—141 while Stirsman came in at 71-70—141 in sharing second place.

Andrew White rallied for a fourth-place finish at 73-69—142 while Hayden Adams (74-69—143) and Haydon Chapman (71-72—143) tied for fifth.

Blackard wins tight battle in Boys 13-and-Under

Peyton Blackard shot 73-69—142 to hold off Alex Holder by one shot in the Boys 13-and-under division at Purgatory.

Blackard trailed Holder and three other players by one shot heading into Sunday’s final round then posted birdies on two of the first four holes to move ahead. He would later sandwich a bogey at 16 with birdies at 15 and 17 to keep the field at bay and win for the second time on the GJT.

Griffin Barke, among the four tied for the first-round lead, made an early bid with consecutive birdies at 4, 5 and 6 before four bogeys would relegate him to a third-place finish at 72-72—144.

Holder played the closing nine in bogey-free 3-under-par, but earlier bogeys at 7 and 8 were too much to overcome in catching Blackard. Holder finished alone in second at 72-71—143.