Mackedon wins in first IJGT appearance
Shin makes big comeback in Girls Division
HERSHEY, Pa. – The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) held their first tournament in the Northeast region this weekend, as the Labor Day Classic teed off at Hershey Country Club’s East Course. Always having one of the largest fields, this year’s tournament did not disappoint, as 89 of the region’s best golfers took aim at the championship. The field was represented by juniors ages 9-19 from seven states and three countries competing for national rankings and IJGT Merit Points.
Playing 5,885 yards for the Girls Division, 6,248 yards for the Boys 14 & Under Division, and 6,838 yards for the Boys 15-19 Division competitors, the East Course was not to be taken lightly. Although boasting only three water hazards, thick rough, the 100 plus bunkers presented the biggest challenge to this year’s participants. Adding to the course’s difficulties were elevated greens on all but three holes. The Fazio designed course has hosted numerous PGA events in the past and most recently held the Web.com Tour’s Reese’s Cup Classic.
In the Boys 15-19 Division, Gerry Mackedon of Port Jefferson, N.Y., came out on top of the field. Mackedon shot an even-par 71 on Saturday to sleep on a two-stroke lead. He also was awarded the KENTWOOL Socks Lo-Pro Award.
Playing in the final group on Sunday with Matthew Bastian of Media, Pa., Kwanwoo Kim of Tenafly, N.J., and Gus Minkin of York, Pa., the road to victory was not easy for the 15-year-old Mackedon. After saving par on the first, Mackedon double-bogeyed the second hole. He regained his composure and birdied Nos. 4, 5, and 7 on his way to a front-nine score of 35.
As the group made the turn, it was Minkin and Vinay Ramesh of Newtown, Pa., playing in the group ahead, who presented the largest challenge to Mackedon. On No. 16, Ramesh birdied, Minkin made par, and Mackedon bogeyed. The three were separated by only two strokes with two holes to play. Ramesh could not muster up better than par on the difficult 17th and 18th holes and needed a miracle. A birdie on No. 17 got Minkin within one, while Mackedon made par on the hole, which provided an exciting ending to the tournament as the group came down the 18th fairway. But that was as close as Minkin or Ramesh would get. Another par on No. 18 for Mackedon, coupled with a bogey by Minkin, closed the deal, as Mackedon finished the day the same way he started it; with a two-stroke lead and now with the championship. He finished with a tournament total of 1-over-par 143.
“I was glad my short game came through this week,” stated Mackedon.
Minkin and Ramesh finished the tournament in a tie for second place with a tournament total of 3-over-par 145.
Max Redetzke of Lakeville, Minn., shot the low round of the tournament Sunday, with a 3-under-par 68, to win the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award.
The Boys 15-19 Division was not the only division that had some drama. The Boys 14 & Under Division also gave the crowd something to talk
about. Like Mackedon, Prescott Butler of Old Westbury, N.Y., came into Sunday with a two-shot lead on the field. Paired with Danny Dougherty of Wilmington, Del., Joe Parrini of York, Pa., and Chris Tanabe of Sewickley, Pa., Butler handled the pressure well beyond his years.
Dougherty and C.J. Hughes of Indiana, Pa., pushed Butler to the end. Hughes made a big move on the day, going 1-under par with a 70 to get back in contention. He was already in the clubhouse as Dougherty and Butler finished their rounds.
The lead belonged to Dougherty with three holes to play, who was one up on Butler. But three consecutive bogeys for Dougherty coupled with three consecutive pars for Butler turned the tide and gave Butler the title. Hughes, like Dougherty, was two shots behind the Old Westbury, N.Y., native Butler.
“The greens were a lot firmer yesterday and made the course a challenge,” commented Butler.
The Girls Division was the only one to have its winner not come from the final group, as Yeji Shin of Norwood, N.J., came back from three strokes down to capture the trophy. After shooting an 8-over-par 79, on Saturday, Shin responded with a 76 on Sunday. She birdied her final hole, and then waited as the final group, consisting of first-round co-leaders and KENTWOOL Socks Lo-Pro Awards recipients Frida Henningsson of Rye, N.Y., and Megan McLean of Lebanon, N.J., completed their rounds.
McLean and Henningsson both found trouble on the ninth hole, their final hole of the day. McLean’s tee-shot settled under a pine tree and she was forced to take an unplayable resulting in a one-stroke penalty. After her drop, she was forced to chip out of the deep fescue. By the time her hole was finished, a triple-bogey had dropped her out of championship contention. Henningsson also hit a tree off the tee, but got a fortunate bounce. Her second shot was a punch-out into the fairway, leaving her with an uphill shot from just outside 100 yards. That shot sped across the green and rolled into the rough. A tricky downhill chip got the best of her, as she carded a double-bogey on the hole, to finish one shot back of Shin.
“I did not think I had a chance [to win],” said Shin. “My putting saved me.”
Shin’s final-round score of 76 earned her the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award.
Henningsson finished in second place with a tournament total of 156. McLean rounded out the top three with a score of 158.
The IJGT Northeast tour will be back at it next weekend in Hamburg, N.J. for the Major Championship at Crystal Springs. The tournament will be played at Crystal Springs’s Great Gorge Course. To sign up for this Event, or others, visit IJGT.com or call (843) 785-2444.
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, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Kiawah Island Resort, 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, Golfweek morodZ, PURE Grips, and the International Junior Golf Academy.
To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call (800) 792-9143.
HERSHEY, Pa. – Final-round results of the IJGT Labor Day Classic at Hershey Country Club conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed September 1, 2013. Boys 15-19 Division: Blue Tees – 6,838 yards, Par 71 (73.9/137) Boys 14 & Under Division: White Tees – 6,248 yards, Par 71 (70.5/132) Girls Division: Gold Tees – 5,885 yards, Par 71 (74.9/131)
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Weather:
Saturday: Sunny with temperatures in the high 70’s with 0-5 mph winds
Sunday: Sunny with temperatures in the high 70’s with 0-5 mph winds
International Junior Golf Tour
Labor Day Classic at Hershey Country Club
Hershey, Pa.
August 31-September 1, 2013
East Course
Boys 15-19 Division – Blue Tees, 6,838 yards, Par 71
1. Gerry Mackedon, Port Jefferson, NY, *71-72–143
2. Vinay Ramesh, Newtown, PA, *76-69–145
2. Gus Minkin, York, PA, *74-71–145
4. Max Redetzke, Lakeville, MN, *78-68–146
5. Kwanwoo Kim, Tenafly, NJ, *73-74–147
5. Matthew Bastian, Media, PA, *74-73–147
7. Matt Starobin, Davidsonville, MD, *77-71–148
8. C.J. Zachary, Hummelstown, PA, *77-73–150
8. Tyler Sokolis, Doylestown, PA, *77-73–150
8. Trey Croney, Bryn Mawr, PA, *76-74–150
8. James Mongey, Morristown, NJ, *76-74–150
12. Jason Guintu, Potomac Falls, VA, *78-73–151
12. Ryan Conner, Newtown, PA, *77-74–151
14. Kevin Borowicz, Grand Island, NY, *80-72–152
15. Hunter Lee, Great Neck, NY, *79-74–153
15. Rij Patel, Hunt Valley, MD, *77-76–153
15. J.T. Barker, Bethlehem, PA, *76-77–153
18. Eric Terminello, White Plains, NY, *79-75–154
19. Bobby Piluso, Ridgewood, NJ, *79-76–155
19. Nick Geiman, York, PA, *78-77–155
21. Bobby Firth, Jenkintown, PA, *82-74–156
21. Patrick Sheerer, Gibsonia, PA, *79-77–156
21. Mike May, Auburn, NY, *80-76–156
21. Michael Bushman, North Potomac, MD, *80-76–156
21. Evan Johnson, York, PA, *78-78–156
26. Leonard Lee, Wyckoff, NJ, *79-78–157
27. Christopher Nolte, Arnold, MD, *79-79–158
27. Ryan Bree, Kennett Square, PA, *78-80–158
29. Thomas Dzwonczyk, North Abington Township, PA, *84-75–159
29. Austin Maher, Bracebridge, Canada, *82-77–159
29. Bobby Hapanowicz, Presto, PA, *80-79–159
32. Jb Bradbeer, Rosemont, PA, *83-77–160
33. Spencer Shepperly, New Vernon, NJ, *84-77–161
33. Christopher Chiminski, Penns Park, PA, *80-81–161
33. Will Haller, Gaithersburg, MD, *81-80–161
36. Kyle Kost, New Hope, PA, *83-79–162
36. Brandan Bree, Kennett Square, PA, *84-78–162
36. Michael Richards, Cobourg, Canada, *85-77–162
36. Sam Hecht, Oakton, VA, *83-79–162
36. Andrew Bowyer, Summit, NJ, *87-75–162
36. Dominick Mancinelli, Moosic, PA, *79-83–162
42. Alex Tanabe, Sewickley, PA, *82-81–163
43. Jack Faraci, Port Jefferson Station, NY, *86-78–164
43. Paul Terminello, White Plains, NY, *81-83–164
43. Evan Katz, Washington, DC, *78-86–164
46. Ben Lieberman, Potomac, MD, *85-80–165
46. Matthew Moore, Pittsburgh, PA, *82-83–165
46. Chris Tohir, New Canaan, CT, *90-75–165
49. Grant Brongo, Spencerport, NY, *84-85–169
50. Andrej Erkelens, Pittsford, NY, *84-86–170
51. Matt Ferriero, Long Valley, NJ, *87-84–171
52. Jesse Bevilacqua, Rumson, NJ, *90-82–172
53. David A. Sinisi, Harrisburg, PA, *83-91–174
53. Peter Bradbeer, Philidelphia, PA, *92-82–174
55. Angelo Mancinelli, Moosic, PA, *88-89–177
56. Emerson Maher, Bracebridge, Canada, *96-82–178
57. Zachary Sculler, Morganville, NJ, *94-92–186
DID NOT FINISH
Joe Blando, Jr, Manhasset, NY, *DQ (Rule 6-6b)
DJ Quinn, Marlton, NJ, *84-DQ (Rule 6-3a)
Dominic Pizzurro-Gomez, White Plains, NY, *85-JWD
Boys 14 & Under Division – White Tees, 6,248 yards, Par 71
1. Prescott Butler, Old Westbury, NY, *76-77–153
2. C.J. Hughes, Indiana, PA, *85-70–155
2. Danny Dougherty, Wilmington, DE, *78-77–155
4. Chris Tanabe, Sewickley, PA, *79-78–157
5. Joe Parrini, York, PA, *79-79–158
6. Jacob Richards, Cobourg, Canada, *82-79–161
7. Daniel Bastian, Media, PA, *90-89–179
DID NOT FINISH
John Kalavritinos, Potomac, MD *JWD
Girls Division – Gold Tees, 5,885 yards, Par 71
1. Yeji Shin, Norwood, NJ, *79-76–155
2. Frida Henningsson, Rye, NY, *76-80–156
3. Megan McLean, Lebanon, NJ, *76-82–158
4. Chelsea DAntonio, Lancaster, NY, *77-83–160
5. Sarah Bothner, Rochester, NY, *77-84–161
6. Raphaella Kang, Bayside, NY, *82-81–163
7. Samantha Yao, Berwyn, PA, *83-82–165
8. Emily Connors, Lancaster, NY, *83-83–166
9. Julianne Lee, York, PA, *88-82–170
9. Audrey Clawson, Sarver, PA, *88-82–170
11. Allyson Wentworth, Stewartsville, NJ, *92-79–171
11. Summer Kitahara, Greenwich, CT, *86-85–171
13. Lacey Bensing, Ephrata, PA, *88-85–173
14. Kate Weiss, Greenwich, CT, *90-84–174
14. Caroline Zhao, Greenwich, CT, *89-85–174
16. Amanda Meyers, North Potomac, MD, *85-90–175
17. Madison Braman, Loudonville, NY, *89-87–176
18. Adelyn Deery, Lancaster, PA, *94-84–178
19. Jasmine Kitahara, Greenwich, CT, *93-87–180
DID NOT FINISH
Carley Hopton, Madison, NJ, *82-DQ (Rule 6-6d)
Victoria Parker, Lewiston, NY, *JWD