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IJGT Junior at Dolphin Head - Final Round Results
Spiegler Secures Title at Dolphin Head
Johnson Earns Victory in the Boys 15-19 Division
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – A highly talented group of junior golfers came to compete in the 36-hole International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) Junior at Dolphin Head Golf Club. The narrow fairways and well protected greens on the Gary Player design proved to be a tough test for all players.
Elliott Johnson of Bluffton, S.C., claimed his first IJGT title in the Boys 15-19 Division after closing with a tournament total of 156. Johnson started off the tournament with a great first-round score of 3-over-par 75. During his round he benefited from great ball striking to come up with 13 pars on the day. The highlight of Johnson’s round was the birdie he made on the challenging closing hole at Dolphin Head Golf Club. On Tuesday, Johnson got off to a hot start playing his first three holes in 1-under-par, but then had a minor setback with a double-bogey on the par-4 fifth hole. He rebounded nicely making four pars in his next five holes. From there it was smooth sailing for Johnson who finished with an 81 on the day, which gave him a three stroke victory.
The tight fairways at Dolphin Head Golf Club caused problems for most of the field, but Johnson put himself in great position off the tee. “I stayed out of trouble. I hit the fairways, hit a lot of the greens, and made some putts,” commented Johnson when asked what part of his game was working well this tournament.
Finishing in second place was Daiki Okada of Tokyo, Japan, with a tournament total of 159. In third place was AJ Correia of Bedford, N.H., who finished with a tournament score of 161.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Andrew Spiegler of Abingdon, Va., put together two solid rounds over the course of the tournament to earn the crown in his first IJGT event. Spiegler’s first round score of 2-over-par 74 was highlighted by three birdies. He made the turn in even-par, before giving a few back to the field on his last nine holes. Spiegler went into the final round with an eight stroke cushion, but that quickly went away as Tennoshin Ogawa of Ichinomiya-shi, Japan made a move early to close the gap. Spiegler showed great resolve down the stretch at Dolphin Head Golf Club playing his last seven holes in 1-over-par to finish with a tournament total of 153 and a one stroke margin of victory over Ogawa.
Coming into the tournament Spiegler spent much of his practice time working on putting. “I was trying to control my long putts and it worked,” said Spiegler when asked about the keys to his success this tournament. The tournament champion was going to have to navigate the undulating greens at Dolphin Head Golf Club, and Spiegler was rewarded for all his hard work.
Ogawa finished the tournament in second place with a tournament score of 154. In third place was Alan Xu of Zhengzhou, China with a tournament total of 168.
Ogawa earned the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award in the Boys Division, after his final round score of even-par 72, which was also the lowest score of the tournament in all divisions.
The battle for the Girls Division was won by Cheerie Tan of Melbourne, Australia. Tan build a large lead of eight strokes after an 8-over-par 80 in the first round. This was the lowest score of the tournament in the Girls Division. After starting with a double-bogey on her first hole of the tournament, Tan quickly calmed down and got her game back on track. The high point of her opening round was the birdie she made on No. 5 at Dolphin Golf Club. During the final round Tan got off to a slow start with a front-nine score of 45, but she held off a charge from fellow competitor Fatin Amin of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the back nine. This was Tan’s first IJGT tournament which made all IJGT champions at this tournament first time winners.
Dolphin Head Golf Club was very appealing to Tan. “The greens were smooth. And I like the fact that it has water because at my home course it is all bunkers and no water,” answered Tan when asked about the event venue for the week.
Amin finished in second place with a tournament total of 170. Rounding out the top finishers was Phoebe Brinker of Wilmington, Del., in third place with a tournament score of 187.
The Girls Division winner of the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award went to Amin who recorded an 82 to earn the honor for the first time this year.
The IJGT will kickoff its regular season tour on Labor Day Weekend (September 1-2nd) with two great events. The IJGT will travel to Hershey, Pa., for a tournament at Hershey Country Club. Simultaneously in Okatie, S.C., Oldfield Golf Club will host the IJGT.
To sign up for this event or others, or for more information call (800) 792-9143 or visit www.IJGT.com.
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, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, 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.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Final round results of the IJGT Junior at Dolphin Head Golf Club conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed July 17, 2012. Boys 15-19 Division: Blue Tees – 6412 yards, par 72 (72.0/137). Boys 14 & Under Division: Blue Tees – 6412 yards, par 72 (72.0/137). Girls Division: Gold Tees – 5654 yards, par 72 (73.4/125).
Boys 15-19 Division – Blue Tees, 6412 yards, Par 72
Boys 14 & Under Division – Blue Tees, 6412 yards, Par 72
Girls Division – Gold Tees, 5654 yards, Par 72
