Pinili earns boys overall title with 67

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lorenzo Pinili surged in the final round with a 5-under-par 67, enabling him to win the Boys overall title as well as the 14-15 age division at the UK Club’s Big Blue Course.

After an opening-round 75 left him in the middle of the pack, Pinilli caught fire to open the final round, posting birdies on two of the first five holes. He held it together the rest of the way playing mistake-free golf, eventually posting birdies on three of the first holes to start his inward nine and finished the round with no bogeys on his card.

The victory marked his third of the season on the GJT and fifth of his career.

Pinili beat Ali Khan by two shots for the overall title and Michael Long by three shots for the Boys 14-15 title. Long finished at 70-75—145 while Tyler Sabo captured sole possession of third place with rounds of 72-74—146.

Khan earns narrow win in Boys 16-19

Ali Khan rallied from four shots back with a final-round 68 in winning the Boys 16-19 division at the UK Club by one shot.

Khan shot 76-68—144 and played the first 14 holes Sunday in bogey-free 5-under-par to move into the lead. That rally was good enough to hold off Allan Lockwood (73-72—145) and Jackson Finney (73-72—145) who finished tied for second.

Connor Gdovin and Kash Bellar each shot 72 in the opening round to take the lead into Sunday, but couldn’t match the pace set by Khan. Gdovin made the turn Sunday in 2-under-par, but struggled with four bogeys on the homestretch to finish at 72-74—146 and in a tie for fourth place with Clay Pendergrass (76-70—146) and Alex Gentry (73-73—146).

Bellar had early struggles Sunday and finished out of the top 10.

Powell defeats Sohn in Girls 16-19 playoff

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Casey Powell’s par on the first playoff hole engineered her victory over Reagan Sohn in the Girls 15-19 division at Kearney Hill.

The victory marked Powell’s second appearance in the GJT winner’s circle.

Powell began the final round one shot behind Sohn and twice during the final round fell back as much as three strokes. After a double bogey at the 13th put her three shots back for the second time, Powell made all pars the rest of the way and was able to force the playoff when Sohn suffered three straight bogeys starting at 15.

Powell finished regulation at 76-75—151 while Sohn shot 75-76—151.

In the final round, Powell carded 15 pars in an otherwise-steady final round marred by two double bogeys. Sohn’s final round was rather frenetic as she enjoyed two birdies and an eagle, but also suffered through eight bogeys.

Anna Coccia was poised to either win or join the playoff, but she played the final four holes in 5-over-par to finish alone in third place at 76-77—153. Destynie Sheridan posted rounds of 80-77—157 to finish alone in fourth place.

Deal rallies for Girls 14-and-Under title

Sydney Deal overcame a 3-shot deficit to beat Meiyi Wu by two shots in the Girls 14-and-under division at Kearney Hill.

Deal posted rounds of 87-77—164, pulling away with a strong 1-over-par 37 on the final nine holes. She made her first move on Sunday with a birdie at the third, bringing her to within one shot of the lead.

Wu’s double bogey at the ninth put the two girls tied for the lead where they would be with only four holes remaining. From that point, Deal made all pars the rest of the way to bring home the victory, her third in three appearances this season.

Wu finished second with rounds of 84-82—166.

Blackard rolls field in Boys 13-and-Under

Peyton Blackard put together two of the best rounds of his GJT career in cruising to a 9-shot victory in the Boys 13-and-under division at Kearney Hill.

Blackard shot 71-68—139 and was never threatened from the opening onward. He played the opening nine holes Saturday in bogey-free 2-under-par to move ahead early and he squelched all hopes of the field with birdies on three of the first five holes in Sunday’s final round. In that final round, Blackard amazingly carded eight birdies to give him 12 for the weekend.

Landen Howard had a solid weekend in finishing second place with rounds of 76-72—148 while Leo Wessell finished alone in third place at 75-74—149.