IJGT Major Championship at Kiawah Island - Final Round Results

Inokawa Wins Second Straight IJGT Event

Sasaki Masters The Ocean Course

(KIAWAH ISLAND, SC) Wind and rain could not stop the competitors of the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) from taking to the links in the 36-hole Major Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The first major championship of the spring season proved to be a stern test of the player’s mental toughness and patience. During the first round of competition the golfers skillfully played Turtle Point, a tree lined course where it is essential to keep the ball in play as out of bounds lurks on every hole. On Sunday’s final round competitors battled through torrential rain and strong winds at Kiawah’s famed Ocean Course. The Ocean Course previously hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and come August the PGA Championship.

In the Boys 15-19 Division, Shosei Inokawa of Atamishi, Japan took home the championship trophy. At Turtle Point Inokawa fired a first round score of three-over-par 75. During the final round Inokawa mastered the tough conditions with an extremely impressive score of even-par 72. With rounds of 75 and 72 for a three-over-par total score of 147, Inokawa took home the top prize for the weekend, earning double merit points and an invite to the Tournament of Champions in May. Tying for second place honors were Ben Dietrich from Bluffton, South Carolina and Saravit Kerdsinchai of Nonthaburi, Thailand. Dietrich (76-72) and Kerdsinchai (75-73) both shot four-over-par 148 for the weekend.

“My putting worked really well for me today, and I just tried to make par par par. It really was one of my best rounds ever,” said Inokawa. This was his second victory in as many weeks as he won last weekends                                         event at Savannah Harbor as well.

In the Boys U-14 Division, Salil Ghamande of Evans, Georgia won the championship wire-to-wire. This is Ghamande’s second major championship victory of the season. He previously won the IJGT major at Port Royal Golf Club in November. Winning the Carolina Championship by a margin of seven strokes, Ghamande posted two solid rounds of 77 and 79 for a twelve-over-par total of 156. In second place was Joshua Allen of Wilson, North Carolina after posting consistent rounds of 82 and 81 for a two-day total of 163. Allen was victorious in the first tournament of the fall series, the Winter Shootout at Eagles Point. Rounding out the top three was Shogo Ito of Tokyo, Japan. Ito recorded rounds of 81 and 84 for a total of 165. Ito continued his consistent play by finishing top five in every tournament that he has played, including a win at the Florida Swing at Innisbrook.

Asked how he stayed focused during the rain delay, Ghamande said, “I just tried staying loose, keeping my mind focused on my golf game and goal.”

The Girls Division was won by Moyu Sasaki of Tokyo, Japan. Moyu battled the elements by grinding out two great rounds of 77 and 74 for a seven-over-par total of 151. Sasaki is no stranger to winning big events, as she was victorious in the Fourth Annual Hank Haney Invitational at Harbour Town Golf Links. Saya Aono of Hokuto-Shi, Japan shot a first round score of 74 at Turtle Point and a final round score of 78 at the Ocean Course for an eight-over-par 152, good for second place honors. Coming in third place was Ayaka Nakayama of Kanagawa, Japan. Nakayama had an impressive weekend with two rounds of 79 and 75.

After speaking with the champion, Sasaki credited her win to her great iron play throughout weekend.

The IJGT will be hosting Family Weekend at the Barony Course at Port Royal Golf Club next weekend February 25-26, 2012.

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.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C.—Final round results of the IJGT Major Championship conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) at Turtle Point Golf Club on Saturday, February 18, 2012 and The Ocean Course on Sunday, February 19, 2012.  Turtle Point: Boys 15-19 Division: Gold Tees - 6797 yards, par 72, (72.8/140). Boys 14 & Under Division: Silver Tees – 6265 yards, par 72, (69.5/124). Girls Division: Blue Tees – 5834 yards, Par 72 (Girls: 73.7/133). Ocean Course: Boys 15-19 Division: Gold Tees - 6801 yards, par 72, (73.7/138). Boys 14 & Under Division: Silver Tees – 6129 yards, par 72, (70.6/131). Girls Division: Blue Tees – 5861 yards, Par 72 (Girls: 75.7/130)

Weather:        Saturday: Mostly Sunny, highs in the high 60’s

           Sunday: Rain with scattered thunderstorms, temperatures in the high 50’s

International Junior Golf Tour Carolina Championship (Rd. 1: Turtle Point / Rd. 2: Ocean Course)

Kiawah Island, SC

Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Turtle Point & The Ocean Course

February 18-19, 2012

Boys 15-19 Division (Turtle Point - Gold Tees) 6797 yards, Par 72 (Ocean Course - Gold Tees) 6801 yards, Par 72

1. Shosei Inokawa, Atamishi, Japan  *75-72--147    

2. Ben Dietrich, Bluffton, SC  *76-72--148  

2. Saravit Kerdsinchai, Nonthaburi, Thailand  *75-73—148

4. Moe Numpituckchaikul, Bangkok, Thailand  *77-73—150

5. Jordan Smith, Phoenix, AZ  *73-78--151  

6. Cole Ray, Raleigh, NC  *74-78--152                    

6. Diego Lamadrid Navarro, Bluffton, SC  *75-77—152

8. Mark Folkwein, Midland, MI  *75-78--153          

8. Aaron Terrazas, Mexico City, Mexico  *75-78--153         

10. Chad Gehres, Brighton, MI  *80-74--154           

11. Theron Ornt, Highland Park, IL  *78-77--155    

12. Shota Ozaki, Tokyo, Japan  *80-76--156

12. Adrian Gonzalez, Chihuahua, , Mexico  *79-78--157     

12. Frank Szucs, Brookside, NJ  *82-76--158           

12. Mason Smith, Phoenix, AZ  *79-79--158

16. Clarke Stresing, Newberry, FL  *84-75--159      

16. Matthew Mahle, Lexington, KY  *81-78--159   

16. Fred Allen Meyer, Nicholasville, KY  *86-73—159

16. Nico Ardito Barletta, Panama City, Panama  *77-82—159

20. Jake Leavitt, Woodstock, MD  *81-79--160       

20. Poom Pattaropong, Bangkok, Thailand  *80-80--160     

22. Patrick Kim, Pleasanton, CA  *88-73--161         

23. Evan Smith, Bluefield, WV  *81-81--162           

23. Derrick Villarreal, Hilton Head Island, SC  *86-76—162

25. Tom Nettles, McMurray, PA  *85-78--163         

26. Bevan Petrikin, Nashville, TN  *86-78--164       

26. Luke Edelman, Mahwah, NJ  *79-85--164         

28. Matthew Kraus, Essex Fells, NJ  *85-79--164    

29. Jakob Garstecki, Germantown, WI  *87-78--165

29. Matthew Kemps, Palos Verdes Estates, CA  *87-78—165

31. Daniel Haas, Nicholasville, KY  *85-81--166     

31. Matthew Moore, Pittsburgh, PA  *85-81--166    

31. Jai Sharma, Duluth, GA  *89-77--166     

34. James Grigjanis-Meusel, Niagara on the Lake, Canada  *88-79--167

34. Chris Magi, Montreal, Canada  *82-85--167       

36. Ben Warner, Weston, MA  *84-84--168 

37. Eden Park, Seoul, South Korea  *83-86--169     

37. Kyle Hart, Midlothian, VA  *90-79--169

37. Kevin Rawding, Morristown, NJ  *90-79--169   

37. Etienne Brault, Mercier, QC, Canada  *83-86--169        

37. Alex Birch, Wilton, CT  *83-86--169      

37. Jared Mactas, Woodcliff Lake, NJ  *89-80--169

37. Ken Taras, Moorestown, NJ  *87-82--169          

37. Samuel Pastoriza, Bethesda, MD  *87-82--169   

37. Kevin Reich, Winterthur, Switzerland  *86-83--169       

46. Takakazu Furukawa, Shiga, Japan  *93-77--170 

46. Andrew Geesey, Red lion, PA  *84-86--170      

48. Thomas Lantzounis, Mahwah, NJ  *91-80--171  

48. Eric Yarrows, Easthampton, MA  *89-82--171   

48. Michael Nasser, Shreveport, LA  *82-89--171    

51. Ian Hardesty, Chardon, OH  *81-91--172          

51. Paul Clancy, Union, KY  *87-85--172    

53. Forrest Narwold, Wilmington, DE  *92-81--173

53. Steve Altieri, Skillman, NJ  *84-89--173 

55. Ian Marr, Yarmouth, ME  *92-82--174   

55. Spencer Woolfolk, Hinsdale, IL  *91-83--174    

55. Daniel Abraham, Kerala, India  *81-93--174      

58. Jae Sung Hur, Seoul, South Korea  *94-81--175 

59. Scott Lemon, Winnipeg, MB  *89-87--176         

60. Julius Lorentzen, Reno, NV  *98-79--177           

60. Julius Oppenheimer, Pelham, NY  *94-83--177  

60. Jasper Volver, Kolding, Denmark  *87-90--177  

63. Ryan Foll, Yardley, PA  *97-81--178     

64. Connor Crane, Venetia, PA  *94-85--179           

65. JT Twomey, Newtown, PA  *93-87--180           

65. Quin Murphy, Covington, GA  *85-95--180       

67. A-J Suoniemi, Tampere, Finland  *98-83--181    

67. Will Flood, Blue Bell, PA  *98-83--181  

69. Jake Kessel, Woodcliff Lake, NJ  *91-91--182   

70. Drew Baker, Lititz, PA  *100-84--184    

70. Josh Verner, Venetia, PA  *94-90--184   

70. Sam Connelly, Wilmette, IL  *93-91--184          

73. Andrew Goedde, Indianapolis, IN  *100-85--185          

74. Will Connelly, Wilmette, IL  *96-90--186          

75. Phillip Talieh, Saratoga, CA  *102-85--187         

75. Ryan Cseplo, Painesville, OH  *104-83--187      

75. Dan Eidman, Englewood, NJ  *97-90--187        

78. Scott Solomon, Scarsdale, NY  *107-97--204    

79. Jack Maresca, Rye, NY  *109-122--231  

Matt Cheng, Taipei, Taiwan  *82---DQ (15-3)                      

David Dass, Trincity, Trinidad  *---DQ (20-7)                      

Boys 14 & Under Division (Turtle Point - Silver Tees) 6265 yards Par 72, (Ocean Course - Silver Tees) 6129 yards, Par 72

1. Salil Ghamande, Evans, GA,  *77-79--156

2. Joshua Allen, Wilson, NC  *82-81--163

3. Shogo Ito, Tokyo, Japan  *81-84--165      

4. Mark Benevento, Somers Pt., NJ  *91-82--173

5. Tennoshin Ogawa, Ichinomiya-shi, Japan  *91-83--174

6. Will Thomson, Pittsford, NY  *90-85--175

7. Kyle Russo, Ringoes, NJ  *92-85--177

7. Griffin Cryan, Pinehurst, NC  *89-88--177

9. Masato Yoshitsugu, Aichi, Japan  *93-85--178

10. Kevin Ying, Shanghai, China  *93-90--183

11. Prescott Butler, Locust Valley, NY  *96-93--189

12. Ryan Rybicki, Remsen, NY *99-91--190

13. Jonathan Solimano, Montvale, NJ  *102-93--195

14. Alexandr Kuzmin, Almaty, Kazakhstan  *101-98--199

15. Marshall Clemens, Weston, MA  *117-96--213

Girls Division (Turtle Point - Blue Tees) 5834 yards, Par 72, (Ocean Course – Blue Tees) 5861 yards, Par 72

1. Moyu Sasaki, Tokyo, Japan   *77-74--151

2. Saya Aono, Hokuto-shi, Japan   *74-78--152

3. Ayaka Nakayama, Kanagawa, Japan   *79-75--154

4. Kim Mitchell, Woodbridge, VA  *79-81--160

5. Ana Ruiz, Chihuahua, Mexico,  *88-74--162

6. Carolin Schart, Vilshofen, Germany   *82-86--168

7. Ashley Yarbrough, Akron, OH   *96-85--181

8. Nicole Flores, Brambleton, VA   *105-88--193