Ward and Smith take home victories
Avalon Lakes
Kyle Smith owned the weekend at Avalon Lakes Golf and Country Club. Kyle unleased a birdie barrage that kept him in control of the tournament from start to finish. Kyle fired a first round 69 that included six birdies. That earned him a six shot lead. He pushed that margin of victory even farther on Sunday. Kyle added nine more birdies on his way to a six under 66 and a six stroke win. His 15 birdies more than doubled anyone else in the field. Chris Pollak posted rounds of 73-68 for a 141 and second place. Bric Baird (72-75), Sam Fauver (76-71), and Ryan Dinan (78-69) all tied for third place at 147.
Meadow Tian and Kate Sowers were locked up after 36 holes at Avalon Lakes Golf and Country Club on Mother's Day. They went to a sudden-death playoff. After four holes, they were still knotted up and declared co-champions. Meadow (69-77) had the round of the tournament on Saturday with a three under par 69. Kate (71-75) caught her with three birdies on the back on Sunday. The girls both tied at 146. It was the first career Golfweek Junior Tour win for Kate and the tenth for Meadow. Third place went to Kristina Ma who shot scores of 74-78 for a 152 total.
Ben Fauver continued his hot season with another win at Avalon Lakes Golf and Country Club. Ben notched the fourth win of his 2023-24 season and the sixth of his Golfweek Junior Tour career. Ben's Sunday 71 tied for the low round of the tournament. In addition to his first round 75, he finished at 146 total. That was enough to keep him two strokes clear of any competitors as he cruised home. Beckham Martin claimed second place with a 77-71, 148 total. Benjamin Berridge and Ravi Desai both shot identical 74-76, 150 totals and tied for third.
After three previous top 3 finishes already this season, William Qiao finally broke through on Sunday and claimed the first win of his Golfweek Junior Tour career. William opened with a one over par 73 that included three birdies. That score was the lowest of his GJT career. He actually found himself down two with two holes left on Sunday but parred them both to merge with a one stroke victory. Cooper Kropf shot 75-77, 152 and ended the weekend in second. Christian Yoder (81-73) and Trent Riedel (78-76) both tied for third at 154.
After knocking on the door of his first Golfweek Junior Tour win twice in the last month, Eva Emerson snagged her first win at Avalon Lakes Golf and Country Club. Eva snatched the Saturday overnight lead with an opening round of 86. Her lead had dwindled to a single stroke by the time she reached the 10th tee. Eva then played great on the back, recording a 38 and brining it home with a eight stroke margin of victory. Sarah Vojtko shot 88-87, 175 and took second. Third place was a tied between Kennadi Kropf (90-87) and Yumi Kohara (92-85).
Heatherwoode
Jack Ward emerged from a very crowded leaderboard at Heatherwoode Golf Club with his first career victory on the Golfweek Junior Tour. The Wright State golf commit claimed the win on his future home course. Jack was steady all weekend, racking up 25 pars in 36 holes. True to form, Jack rattled off seven straight pars and then birdied his final hole to finish. His 770-71, 141 was his lowest total on the GJT. Landon Harris shot 69-7 for a142 title and finished in second. Michael Fickle posted scores of 72-71, 143 total and took third.
Etta Huffman came all the way from Houston, TX to play at Heatherwoode Golf Club, but that stop her from feeling at home. Etta' opening round of 73 gave her a four stroke overnight lead and was also the lowest round of the tournament. She backed that up with a 75. The 148 total earned her a six shot margin of victory. Etta tied for the tournament lead with five birdies. Clare Yeazell shot scores of 79-75 for a 154 total and finished the weekend in second place. Carter Lankford placed third with a 157 total (83-74).
Evan Menges opened his weekend with a 76. That score left him two shots back after the first day at Heatherwoode Golf Club. He got it going early on Sunday with a birdie and two eagles on the front nine that saw him fire a five under par 31. (The above photo is from his hole out eagle on hole 6) A few bogeys on the back nine allowed him to get caught and sent him into a playoff. After pars on the first two holes of the playoff, Evan came out victorious. It was the second career GJT win for Evan. Anson Munzlinger shot 74-70 for a 144 total and took second. Brady Barnum claimed third with his 74-72, 146 total.
Blaise Barnum shot the lowest round on both days of the tournament at Heatherwoode Golf Club over the weekend. Those rounds propelled him to his fifth win of the season. He also posted his fifth round in the 60s this season with a two under par 69. Blaise recorded eight birdies over the weekend, which led the field. His final score of 143 (74-69) was two strokes clear of the rest of the competition. Zac McGrath (75-70) came in second place. Michael Moorman shot 76-72, 148 total and took third.
Karis Reid turned in a dominating performance in the Girls 14 and Under division at Heatherwood Golf Club. She opened with a 79 that gave her a three shot overnight lead. She followed it with an excellent 72, her lowest 18 hole score in a Golfweek Junior Tour event. The 151 total was her lowest 36 hole GJT score and sent her to her fifth career GJT victory. Karis was incredibly steady all weekend and put up 27 pars in 36 holes. Ellie Hartung (82-81) and Caroline Lankford (83-80) both shot 163 to tie for third.
Other Pictures from Heatherwoode:
