Ferguson blows away competition to take Boys 15-19 Division
Vilips wins Boys 14 & Under in playoff, Whaley secures Girls’ championship
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) concluded the Major Championship at Palmetto Dunes on a gorgeous Veteran’s Day weekend. The Southeast Region Event took place on Nov. 9-10, 2013 and was held on the intricately-designed, yet challenging, par-70 George Fazio course at the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. It was a stacked field, with more than 90 players from 21 states and 18 countries competing for National Rankings and Double IJGT Merit Points. There were countless memorable shots and even a division playoff to keep the many spectators and family members entertained throughout.
In the Boys 15-19 Division, Ewen Ferguson of Glasgow, Scotland, became a first-time IJGT Major Champion with a spectacular performance. He posted a final score of 69-67–136 through two rounds to take home the trophy by a convincing seven strokes. He also earned the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award for his 3-under-par 67 performance on the final day. After carding a first-round 1-under-par 69, Ferguson came out strong during the final round, making par on seven of his first eight holes before sinking a birdie on the par-4 No. 9. He followed an even-par 35 front nine with a bogey-free back nine, posting three birdies on Nos. 13, 17 and 18. He totaled 13 pars on the day, and turned in a scorching 3-under-par performance on the course’s par-4s.
When asked about whether he felt any pressure holding onto his four-stroke lead going into the final round, Ferguson stated, “I think I thrive off pressure…I enjoy it. So, I just try and have fun and shoot a low score.” He did just that, securing the only under-par performance of the tournament.
This was the second event of the season for Ferguson, who recently came in second at the IJGT Island Open at Palmetto Hall on Nov. 2-3, 2013. In three seasons playing on the IJGT, Ferguson has secured victories in two events, and notched second place finishes in his remaining three events.
Rounding out the top three in the Boys 15-19 Division were Tennoshin Ogawa of Ichinomiya-shi, Japan, and Matt Cheng of Taipei, Taiwan, who finished second and third, respectively. Ogawa posted a 73-70–143, while Cheng carded a 76-71–147.
The Boys 14 & Under Division saw Karl Vilips of Melbourne, Australia, grab his second consecutive IJGT victory and first IJGT Major Event win. After a first-round 76 gave him a six-stroke lead, Vilips faced a impressive comeback effort from Takafumi Shimoji of Okinawa, Japan in the final round, where a one-hole playoff was required to determine the victor. Vilips posted a final-round 79 consisting of 12 pars and one birdie, as well as an overall 1-under-par score on the course’s two difficult par-5s. After coming into the clubhouse with a final score of 155, Vilips and Shimoji headed to hole No. 1 for the sudden-victory playoff, where Vilips would par and Shimoji would bogey the hole, giving Vilips the win in a tense matchup between two friendly competitors.
When asked how this Major victory compares to others, Vilips confirmed, “Exciting! There was a lot more competition.”
Playing in his first IJGT season, Vilips has been lights-out, making this victory his fourth of the season with his most recent coming at the IJGT Island Open at Palmetto Hall on Nov. 2-3, 2013.
Shimoji finished second in the event, carding an 83-72–155. Ryan McCarthy of Rockville Centre, N.Y. landed in third place with an 80-77–157.
Kelly Whaley of Farmington, Conn., emerged as champion in the Girls Division, where she was able to break past a first-round tie with Kasidy Beckel of Bluffton, S.C., to grab a five stroke victory in her first IJGT Major win. Posting a 73-70–143, Whaley had a fantastic day, sinking 15 pars including a streak of eight before carding an eagle from 130 yards out on the par-4 No. 12. Her final-round even-par 70 also gave her the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award for her performance.
Reflecting on any pressure she felt during the final round and how she was able to handle it, Whaley explained, “I did at first because [there’s] always pressure when you want to hold onto the lead. But once I kept it going and I had a steady round going, I just didn’t really think about it.”
This was Whaley’s second win of the year and third in two seasons with the IJGT, with her most recent win coming at the Aiken Junior Open at Woodside Plantation on Sept. 21-22, 2013.
Topping off the Girls Division leaderboard were Nikita Arjun of Bangalore, India, in second place with a final 77-71–148, and Phyllis Tang of Hong Kong, China, in third with a total 74-77-151.
The IJGT returns to action on Nov. 29-Dec. 1 for the Thanksgiving Day Classic at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 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, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, CHAMP Spikes, AB Golf Designs, Clazic Belts, morodZ, Sundog Eyewear, PURE Grips, The First Tee, Golfweek and International Junior Golf Academy.
To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call (843) 785-2444.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Final round results of the IJGT Major Championship conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed November 10, 2013. Boys 15-19 Division: Gold Tees – 6,803 yards, Par 70 (73.2/137). Boys 14 & Under Division: Blue Tees – 6,143 yards, Par 70 (70.0/128). Girls Division: White Tees – 5,857 yards, Par 70 (75.8/136).
Weather: Saturday: Cloudy with temperatures in the Low 60s, winds 15-20 mph
Sunday: Sunny with temperatures in the High 60s, winds 10-15 mph
International Junior Golf Tour
Major Championship at Palmetto Dunes – George Fazio Golf Course
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
November 9-10, 2013
Boys 15-19 Division- Gold Tees, 6,803 yards, Par 70
1. Ewen Ferguson, Hilton Head Island, SC *69-67–136
2. Tennoshin Ogawa, Ichinomiya-shi, Japan *73-70–143
3. Matt Cheng, Taipei, Taiwan *76-71–147
4. Chris Magi, Montreal, Canada *73-75–148
5. Alessandro Vedovi, Paris, France *74-76–150
5. Geuntae Kim, SuSeong-DaeGu, South Korea *75-75–150
7. Keshav Sharma, New Delhi, India *75-76–151
8. Yong Sherng Hui, Taman Dagang, Malaysia *79-73–152
9. Austin Maher, Bracebridge, Canada *82-71–153
9. Hao Yang Lin, Taichung. Taiwan *78-75–153
9. Will Miles, Hilton Head Island, SC *74-79–153
12. Harry Jin, Palisades Park, NJ *83-71–154
12. Garrett Johnson, Hilton Head Island, SC *78-76–154
14. Daiki Okada, Tokyo, Japan *81-74–155
14. Diego Vega, Mexico City, Mexico *80-75–155
16. Wataru Koguchi, Fukuoka, Japan *84-72–156
16. Brock Erwin, Muldrow, OK *79-77–156
18. Carlos Fernandez, Madrid, Spain *80-78–158
18. Sam Meuret, Brunswick, NE *78-80–158
20. Kyle Vincze, North Reading, MA *83-76–159
20. Masato Yoshitsugu, Aichi, Japan *83-76–159
20. Matthew Mannion, Muskoka, Canada *80-79–159
23. Shogo Ito, Tokyo, Japan *80-80–160
23. Taylor Kay-Green, Needham, MA *76-84–160
23. Ritwik Jain, New Delhi, India *76-84–160
26. Jonathan Meissner, Wilton, CT *83-78–161
26. John McCabe, Sewickley, PA *82-79–161
26. Nicholas Russell, Hilton Head Island, SC *80-81–161
29. JD Moore, Columbus, NJ *85-77–162
29. Liam McGrath, Huntingdon Valley, PA *84-78–162
29. Taiga Fujii, Toyama-shi, Japan *81-81–162
32. Brett Inserra, Upper Saddle River, NJ *83-80–163
33. Alan Xu, Hilton Head Island, SC *84-80–164
33. Gavin Lindstrom, Hilton Head Island, SC *81-83–164
35. Jack Lupori, Steamboat Springs CO, *87-78–165
35. Gbenga Toriola, Abuja, Nigeria *85-80–165
35. Paul Terminello, White Plains, NY *82-83–165
35. Karan Arjun, Bangalore, India *77-88–165
39. Eric Terminello, White Plains, NY *86-80–166
39. Matthew Bastian, Media, PA *83-83–166
39. Jack Fleming, Falkirk, Scotland *79-87–166
42. Maurizio Debono, Basiglio, Italy *83-84–167
42. Tyler Pidduck, Thousand Oaks, CA *83-84–167
44. Keanu Hasmana, Jakarta, Indonesia *87-81–168
45. Chase Childers, Issue, MD *83-86–169
45. Hazwan Asraff Bin Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia *88-81–169
47. Sam Jones, Hinsdale, IL *88-83–171
47. Lee Hammerschmidt, Armonk, NY *90-81–171
49. Peter Kelesis, Las Vegas, NV *89-84–173
49. Dominic Pizzurro-Gomez, White Plains, NY *83-90–173
51. Mike Madden, Grand Rapids, MI *91-83–174
52. Ben Ferris, Charlotte, NC *92-84–176
53. Drew Bernard, Charlotte, NC *91-86–177
53. Katsuya Asano, Kanagawa, Japan *89-88–177
55. Christopher Chiminski, Penns Park, PA *96-82–178
55. Jake Kessel, Woodcliff Lake, NJ *88-90–178
57. Borys Shubinsky, Hilton Head Island, SC *87-92–179
58. Austin Matz, Wexford, PA *96-86–182
59. Cam Hammel, Wexford, PA *99-85–184
60. Tyler Berdy, Riverside, CA *86-99–185
60. Billy Rosemeyer, Gibsonia, PA *94-91–185
62. Todd Glickfield IV, Bluffton, SC *97-89–186
63. Cameron Hsieh, New York, NY *96-99–195
64. Austin Smith, Roswell, GA *107-112–219
DID NOT FINISH
Norman Hong, Shenzhen, China *81-DQ (Rule 6-6d)
Richard Lavecchia IV, Charlotte, NC *90-DQ (Rule 6-3a)
Jose Carlos Diaz Donato, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico *81-QWD
Cameron Clair, Biddeford, ME *91-JWD
Brad Cook, Jackson, WY *JWD
Boys 14 & Under Division, Blue Tees, 6,143, Par 70
1. Karl Vilips, Melbourne, Australia *76-79–155*
2. Takafumi Shimoji, Okinawa, Japan *83-72–155
3. Ryan McCarthy, Rockville Centre NY, *80-77–157
4. Brandon McBride, Bluffton, SC *81-77–158
4. John Kalavritinos, Potomac, MD *81-77–158
6. Jacob Morris, Hollywood, SC *83-83–166
7. Sebastiano Bogoni, Peschiera Borromeo, Italy *94-88–182
8. Alexander Camberos, Kigali, Rwanda *94-99–193
DID NOT FINISH
Luis Sanchez, Tampico, Mexico *JWD
Girls Division, White Tees, 5,857 yards, Par 70
1. Kelly Whaley, Farmington, CT *73-70–143
2. Nikita Arjun, Bangalore, India *77-71–148
3. Phyllis Tang, Hong Kong, China *74-77–151
4. Rei Nakatani, Tokyo, Japan *78-74–152
5. Ana Ruiz, Chihuahua, Mexico *79-75–154
6. Bria` Sanders, Cordova, TN *78-78–156
6. Kasidy Beckel, Bluffton, SC *73-83–156
8. Sera Tadokoro, Osaka, Japan *88-74–162
9. Samantha Huang, Shenzhen, China *86-78–164
10. Kayla Kozak, Bluffton, SC *89-77–166
10. Yuki Nakayama, Kawasakishi, Japan *87-79–166
12. Dylaney Day, Toronto, Canada *96-91–187
13. Alana Brand, Pennyan, NY *101-96–197
DID NOT FINISH
Emma Parson, Bluffton, SC *DQ (Rule 6-6b)
Sydney Nix, Huntsville, AL *JWD
*Won Playoff