IJGT Florida Swing at Innisbrook - Final Round Results

Stresing Wins In Own Backyard

Ito Victorious In Playoff

Written by Adam Piratzky

(Palm Harbor, Fla.) – The famous Innisbrook Resort was host to the International Junior Golf Tour’s (IJGT) 36-hole event this past weekend. Although it seemed like a potential break from the cold weather for many of the players travelling from the north, South Florida’s reputation of warmth did not hold true for our 7:30am starting time. Once the groups reached the heart of the course, however, the temperature and scores began to heat up. Regardless of the weather, the North Course’s tight fairways and sloped greens made consistent ball striking and putting the key assets to have over the weekend. 

In the Boys 15-19 Division, Clarke Stresing of Newberry, Fla. opened the tournament with a first round of 75. Heading into the final round, many players were in contention for the championship but Stresing finished his final round with an outstanding back nine score of three-under-par 32 to clinch the victory. 

“I putted out of my mind,” said Stresing, offering what he credits for his fantastic finish. A final round score of even-par 70 and a tournament total of five-over-par 145 secured him the title for The Florida Swing at Innisbrook Resort. 

Finishing in second place was Luke Miller of Venetia, Penn., who fired impressive rounds of 75 and 73 for a tournament total of eight-over-par 148. Closing out the Boys 15-19 Division in third place was Raimondo Franchi, Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (HHIJGA) student, who consistently posted a pair of 76’s for a tournament total of twelve-over-par 152.

It was a tight race in the Boys 14 & Under Division as Shogo Ito (HHIJGA), of Tokyo, Japan, took home first place after a three-way playoff for the title. Ito shot rounds of 82-77 for a tournament total of 159. Ito also showed prowess in the Winter Shootout at Eagle’s Pointe the week before, where he posted rounds of 76 and 78 to finish in a close second place. Shogo will be looking to defend his title next week at the Georgia Open at Savannah Harbor.

Competing against Ito in the playoff was Justin Clark of New Canaan, Conn. with rounds of 78-81 (159) and Marc Holzhauer of Clarence Center, NY with rounds of 82-77 (159). All three players carded a par on the first playoff hole pushing the tension to the second. After perfect drives, Clark and Ito were staring down 15-foot putts for birdie and the potential to be crowned the champion. After a near miss by Clark, Ito capitalized on the opportunity and drained his putt for the victory.

The Girls Division provided a plethora of talent as well, as the victory for that division came down to the last hole of the event. Two HHIJGA students, Yi Chen Liu of Taoyuen, Taiwan and Saya Aono of Hokuto-Shi, Japan were tied going into the final hole of the event. Closing her final round with a par, Liu took home first place honors after posting two spectacular rounds of 74-71 for a tournament total of five-over-par 145. This was Yi Chen Liu’s first victory of the 2011-2012 IJGT season. Over the two rounds, she was a combined 5-under-par on par 5’s. A total of 7 birdies, along with great ball striking and short game, helped propel Liu to the victory.

Finishing in a close second place was Saya Aono, who carded rounds of 72-74 for a tournament total of six-over-par 146. Rounding out the Girls Division in third place was Carolin Schart of Vilshofen, Germany, who posted rounds of 80-76 for a tournament total of 156.

The next IJGT event will be The Georgia Open at Savannah Harbor Golf Club in Savannah, GA. This is a two-day tournament over February 4^th and 5^th. There will be a Boys 15-19 Division, Boys 14 & Under Division, and Girls Division.

About the IJGT

The IJGT provides exceptional junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game.  As a tour that operates primarily throughout the academic year, the IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts three international events.   Each event provides multi-day competition for junior golfers of all skill levels ages 9-19.  Players representing 45 states and 43 countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, BMW of North America, The First Tee, Golf Digest/Golf World, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com  or call (800) 792-9143.

Palm Harbor, Fla. – Final round results conducted of the IJGT event conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) at Innisbrook Resort—North Course, held January 28-29, 2012. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees – 6,302 yards, Par 70 (71.0/131). Boys 14 & Under Division: Green Tees – 5,886 yards, Par 70 (69.2/126). Girls Division: White Tees – 5,532 yards, Par 70 (73.0/132).

Weather:

Saturday: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 60’s

Sunday: Sunny with highs in the mid 70’s

International Junior Golf Tour at Innisbrook Resort

Innisbrook – North Course

Palm Harbor, FL

January 28-29, 2012

Boys 15-19 Division – (Black Tees) 6302 yards, Par 70

1. Clarke Stresing, Newberry, FL *75-70--145

2. Luke Miller, Venetia, PA *75-73--148

3. Raimondo Franchi, Milano, Italy *76-76--152

4. Christopher Navarro, Davidsonville, MD *76-77--153

4. Luke Edelman, Mahwah, NJ *76-77--153

6. Theron Ornt, Highland Park, IL *73-81--154

6. Evan Smith, Bluefield, WV *82-72--154

8. Takakazu Furukawa, Shiga, Japan *78-77--155

9. Adrian Gonzalez, Chihuahua, Mexico *77-79--156

9. Chad Gehres, Brighton, MI *78-78--156

11. Kevin King, Cranford, NJ *76-81--157

11. John Edwards, Paducah, KY *73-84--157

11. Michael Chanaud, Gambrills, MD *74-83--157

14. Mark Folkwein, Midland, MI *80-79--159

15. Alejandro Lozano, Bogota, Colombia *80-80--160

16. Jeff Shi, Lakewood Ranch, FL *82-79--161

17. River Howard, Denver, NC *82-80--162

17. Alex Smith, Dayton, OH *80-82--162

19. Anthony Bonsignore, Manorville, NY *80-84--164

19. Matthew Kraus, Essex Fells, NJ *87-77--164

21. Matthew Kemps, Palos Verdes Estates, CA *85-80--165

22. Chris Flaherty, Tampa, FL *84-83--167

23. Ken Shi, Lakewood Ranch, FL *86-82--168

24. Keanu Hasmana, Jakarta, Indonesia *78-91--169

25. Phillip Talieh, Saratoga, CA *85-87--172

26. Garrett Johnson, Bloomfield Hills, MI *88-85--173

26. Robbie Hickok, Washington, DC *85-88--173

28. Christopher White, Garden City, NY *88-86--174

28. Will Flood, Blue Bell, PA *84-90--174

30. Nick Barth, Brecksville, OH *92-83--175

30. Eden Park, Seoul, South Korea *85-90--175

32. Ian Marr, Yarmouth, ME *92-86--178

32. Ken Taras, Moorestown, NJ *85-93--178

Boys U-14 Division – (Green Tees) 5886 yards, Par 70

1. Shogo Ito, Tokyo, Japan *82-77--159

2. Justin Clark, New Canaan, CT *78-81--159

2. Marc Holzhauer, Clarence Center, NY *82-77--159

4. Masato Yoshitsugu, Aichi , Japan *82-81--163

5. Will Thomson, Pittsford, NY *79-85--164

6. Kyle Cunningham, Sayville, NY *84-92--176

6. Ryan Rybicki, Remsen, NY *84-92--176

6. Sampson Zheng, Bradenton, FL *86-90--176

9. Colin Dubnik, Rochester, NY *93-88--181

10. Alexandr Kuzmin, Almaty, Kazakhstan *100-102--202

11. Christian Garruppo, Pottersville, NJ *110-112--222

Girls Division – (White Tees) 5532 yards, Par 70

1. Yi Chen Liu, Taoyuan, Taiwan *74-71--145

2. Saya Aono, Hokuto-shi, Japan *72-74--146

3. Carolin Schart, Vilshofen, Germany *80-76--156

4. Stephanie Bosdosh, Clarksburg, MD *81-82--163

5. Selena Costabile, Toronto, ON *82-91--173

6. Kali Boyer, New Ringgold, PA *91-90--181

7. Paige Cappelli, Blue Bell, PA *94-89--183

8. Savannah Schwab, Scottsdale, AZ *90-94--184

9. Lizzie Hammel, Wexford, PA *97-93---190

10. Jacqueline Kim, Clarence, NY *105-93--198