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IJGT Junior at Wintonbury Hills - Final Round Results
Written By: Pat Eland
Eleey and Rybicki Fight Through Weather Delay to Win First IJGT Title
Paxton wins by narrow margin
Bloomfield, Conn. – The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) traveled to beautiful Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, designed by legendary golf course architect Pete Dye, for the IJGT Junior at Wintonbury Hills on Sept. 8-9, 2012. The 36-hole tournament, featuring some of the top juniors in the Northeast area, tested the juniors’ golf skills on a very tough course, which was made even more difficult with severe weather conditions in a nationally ranked event.
The Boys 15-19 division showed to be tightest race of the weekend. Derick Paxton of Great Falls, Va. and Armondo Olivieri from Greenwich, Conn. were tied atop the leaderboard as the storms rolled through Bloomfield at the end of day one of the two-day event. Paxton saw the sunshine of Sunday morning as an opportunity to shine himself as his second round 72 (+2), which featured five birdies on the very tough greens of Wintonbury Hills, was just enough to edge out Rochester, N.Y. native Jack Gianniny by two strokes.
“My putting is really what set me apart today,” said Paxton. “I made a lot of long putts for birdie, and some real knee-knockers to save par throughout the day.”
Paxton, who finished in 29th place last weekend at the IJGT Labor Day Classic at Hershey Country Club, was able to bounce back for his first win on the IJGT. Gianniny’s 76-72-148 (+8) put him in the number two spot on Sunday, just above Olivieri and West Sayville, N.Y. native Kyle Burke who rounded out the top of the leaderboard tying for third place.
Ryan Rybicki from Remsen, N.Y. has been a familiar face around the IJGT for the last three years. He came to Bloomfield looking to improve on his tied for 13th finish in Hershey one week ago, but little did he know just how much of an improvement he would make. Rybicki built himself a seven-stroke lead on the eventful day one of the event and never looked back.
“I just hit a lot of 3-woods to get into the middle of the fairway and up to the green, “ said Rybicki. “I was just looking to not put up any big numbers.”
Rybicki’s gameplan on Sunday seemed to be just what the doctor ordered as he was able to stretch his lead to a very impressive eleven strokes for his first IJGT victory in his three years on tour. Rybicki fored consistant rounds of 80-80 for a tournament total of 160. Duncan Guinn of New Canaan, Conn. was able to battle through the tough weather conditions to come in second (87-84), while IJGT newcomer, Chase Skrubis of Granby, Conn., rounded out the top three in his first event on tour with rounds of 90-87.
Quincy, Mass. native, Jacquelyn Eleey, came to the IJGT Junior at Wintonbury Hills not knowing what to expect from her first appearance in an IJGT event. She found a plethora of strong competition as she battled through the tough playing conditions on Saturday due to extreme weather that moved in about halfway through her round. She came back after about an hour weather delay to fire an opening round 78 (+8) giving her a four-stroke lead after day one.
Eleey said it was tough to have to stop right in the middle of her round on Saturday, but she came out of the delay looking to get right back on track with consecutive up-and-down par saves on her first two holes.
Eleey was consistent in rain and shine as she shot a very impressive 78-78-156 (+16) to give her the IJGT Girls division title by seven strokes over Bayside, N.Y. native Raphaella Kang, who came in second with a 84-79-163 (+23). Alexis Hios of Rye, N.Y. rounded out the top of the Girls division leaderboard with rounds of 85-81-166 (+26).
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, AB Golf Designsm, Clazic Belts, 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.
#IJGT#
Bloomfield, CT—Final round results of the IJGT event conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) at the Hershey Country Club – East Course, held Sept. 1-2, 2012. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees – 6545 yards, par 70, (71.5/128). Boys 14 & Under Division: Green Tees – 5,943 yards, par 70, (68.5/125). Girls U-19 Division: Gold Tees – 5538 yards, Par 70 (71.7/121)
Weather:
Saturday: Periods of rain and storms, highs in the low 80’s
Sunday: Sunny with highs in the low 80’s
IJGT Junior at Wintonbury Hills
Wintonbury Hills Golf Course
Bloomfield, CT
Sep 8 - Sep 9, 2012
Boys 15-19 Division (Black Tees) 6535 yards, Par 70
1. Derick Paxton, Great Falls, VA, *74-72-146
2. Jack Gianniny, Rochester, NY, *76-72-148
3. Kyle Burke, West Sayville, NY*80-70-150
3. Armando Olivieri, Greenwich, CT, *74-76-150
5. Christopher Troy, Greenwich, CT, *79-75-154
6. Johnson Ko, Manhasset, NY, *76-79-155
7. Aaron Simone, Niskayuna, NY, *79-79-158
8. Jesse Kovacs, St James, NY, *79-81-160
9. Eric Terminello, White Plains, NY, *86-76-162
9. Chris Tohir, New Canaan, CT, *81-81-162
9. Jackson Kleinert, Greenwich, CT, *77-85-162
12. Anthony Scarcella, Scarsdale, NY, *84-79-163
12. Kyle Finnican, New Canaan, CT, *84-79-163
14. Nick Di Marco, Smithtown, NY, *80-84-164
15. Andrew Felman, Westport, CT, *86-79-165
15. Oliver Wade, New York, NY, *78-87-165
15. Alexander Nielan, Belchertown, MA, *78-87-165
18. Thomas Whelan, Smithtown, *81-85-166
19. Thomas Dunleavy, Darien, CT, *89-78-167
20. Daniel Melcher, New York, NY, *83-85-168
21. Alec Miller, Pittsford, NY, *89-84-173
22. Brett Taylor, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, *96-79-175
23. Cristian Cerza, Greenwich, CT, *95-92-187
DID NOT FINISH
JWD. Andrew Several, Simsbury, CT, *82-JWD
Boys U-14 Division (Green Tees) 5943 Yards, Par 70
1 Ryan Rybicki, Remsen, NY, *80-80--160
2 Duncan Guinn, New Canaan, CT, *87-84--171
3 Chase Skrubis, Granby, CT, *90-87--177
4 Danny Gianniny, Rochester, NY, *93-85--178
5 Jack Kane, Berlin, CT , *96-89--185
6 Teddy Trosset, Cooperstown, NY *94-102--196
Girls Division (White Tees) 5,538 Yards, Par 70
1 Jacquelyn Eleey, Quincy, MA, *78-78--156
2 Raphaella Kang, Bayside, NY, *84-79--163
3 Alexis Hios, Rye, NY, *85-81--166
T4 Madison Braman, Loudonville, NY, *82-90--172
T4 Sadie Martinez, Hartford, CT, *82-90--172
6 Summer Kitahara, Greenwich, CT, *91-84--175
7 Caroline Rubino, Mansfield, MA, *85-92--177
DID NOT FINISH
JWD Victoria Nichols, Lowell, IN, *96-JWD
