Final Results from the IJGT Shootout at Colleton River

Spencer-White Defends Home Turf at Colleton River

Sasaki Completes Comeback to Win Girls Division

BLUFFTON, S.C.– The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) hosted an exciting fourth event of the Spring 2013 season Feb. 9-10 at the beautiful Colleton River Plantation . The IJGT Shootout at Colleton River  featured 89 elite junior golfers ages 10-19 representing 18 states and 18 countries. True to the ‘Shootout’ title, the IJGT Shootout at Colleton River came down to the wire. Charlie Spencer-White  of Bluffton, S.C., and Moyu Sasaki  of Tokyo, Japan prevailed in the Boys 15-19 and Girls Divisions respectively. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Tennoshin Ogawa  of Ichinomiya-shi, Japan took home his fifth title of the 2012-2013 season after winning a playoff by default against Ben Reichert  of East Amherst, N.Y.

In the Boys 15-19 Division, Spencer-White was able to capture victory on his home turf. As a member of Colleton River since the age of nine, 16-year-old Spencer-White was no stranger to the fast greens and tight fairways. In the first round he carded a 2-over-par 74 to put him one stroke behind the pack of four players tied for first.

“My drives were really good off the tee,” Spencer-White said, “I hit almost all of the fairways.”

In the final round Spencer-White started off with a bogey on No. 1, but rebounded with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6 to card 1-under-par 35 on the front. Spencer-White started the back nine with a promising birdie on No. 10 but bogeyed the difficult par-5 11th. He finished the round even-par to bring his tournament total to 2-over-par 146.

“It felt great [to win]. I am really happy that I played well at my home course,” he said. “This is a great way to start the season and I hope to keep improving and keep getting better.”

Finishing just behind Spencer-White, in a tie for second, was Will Miles  of Hilton Head Island, S.C., andSense Chaowalit  of Bangkok, Thailand with 3-over-par 147. Mitchell Campbell of Paget, Bermuda andChris Magi  of Montreal, Canada tied for fourth to round out the top-5 with 4-over-par 148.

The KENTWOOL  Lo-Pro Award, which is given to players who card the lowest first round score, was given to  Shosei Inokawa  of Atamishi, Japan, Magi, Ogawa, Miles and Chaowalit for the Boys Division after carding 1-over-par 73 in the first round.

The Clazic Belts  Low Final Round Award was given to Mickey Werenski of South Hadley, Mass., who carded 1-under-par 71 in the final round.

In the Girls Division, Sasaki took the field by surprise rebounding from her first-round 5-over-par 77. Sasaki began the final round tied for sixth, but ended the tournament receiving the Clazic Belt Low Final Round Award after carding a 1-under-par 71 to win the Girls Division.

Sasaki began the final round with a bogey on No. 10 but carded back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to propel her to 1-under-par 35. She continued her success onto her back-nine with a birdies on Nos. 1 and 7, but fell short on the difficult par-4 No. 5 with a bogey. Sasaki ended her round with a bogey on No. 9 to bring her tournament total to 4-over-par 148. This was Sasaki’s first IJGT win of the 2012-2013 season after winning IJGT Player of the Year honors in 2011-2012.

Finishing just behind Sasaki was Cake Phuchanbanchob  of Chiang Mai, Thailand who received the KENTWOOL Lo-Pro Award for the Girls Division after firing a 2-under-par 70 in the first round. Phuchanbanchob finished 7-over-par 151 for the tournament after a 9-over-par 81 in the final round. Tied for third carding 9-over-par 153 were natives of Tokyo, Japan, Ayaka Nakayama  and Rei Nakatani .

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Ogawa took an early lead after carding a 1-over-par 73 during the first round. Ogawa is no stranger to the leader group. In the last eight IJGT tournaments he has participated in, Ogawa has never finished outside the top-5.

Reichert rebounded from a first-round 8-over-par 80 with a 2-over-par 74 but was unable to compete in the playoff for the title landing him a second place finish. Paul Schumacher  of Canton, Ohio and Kevin Ying  of Shanghai, China both carded 17-over-par 161 to tie for third place in the Boys 14 & Under Division.

The next IJGT event will be the Carolina Major Championship  atKiawah Island Resort  Feb. 16-17. The tournament will be held at the Turtle Point and Ocean courses. The famed Ocean Course hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship.

To sign up for this event, or other, or for more information on the IJGT, call (843) 785-2444 or visitwww.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, Sundog Eyewear, morodZ, PURE Grips, Sundog eyewear and International Junior Golf Academy.

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