EXTRA HOLES NEEDED TO DECIDED GIRLS DIVISION
VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA: The Winternational Junior Series concluded its second event of the season this past holiday weekend. Great weather provided an ideal opportunity for these high school aged boys and girls to walk off some Thanksgiving Day turkey. The Tom Fazio redesigned No. 6 course played host over the two rounds.
In the Junior/Senior Division Jacob Steinert of Pittsboro, NC narrowly edged out runner-up Gus Haglund of Chevy Chase, MD. Steinert came into the final round in a three way tie at the top after an opening round of 79. However, two double bogeys late nearly cost him the title. Haglund, a junior from Georgetown Prep made a late charge shooting one under par on his back nine but eventually ran out of holes to complete the comeback. Rounding out the top three was 2016-2017 Winternational All-American Owen Swavely of Morrisville, NC.
In the freshman/Sophomore division Chris Ha of Fayetteville, NC took a one shot lead after the first round and held on for a three shot victory with rounds 81+80=161. Ha, a seventh grader was one stroke ahead after thirty holes but his one under par finish for the final six spelled the difference. Runner-up position was awarded to Drew Van-Dyke on the merits of his 84+80=164 total. Van-Dyke is an eighth grader out of Charlotte, NC. In third place with an 82+84=166 total was Connor Lineberry from Randleman, NC.
Sharing the low round of the division was fourth place finisher was Kunakorn Tang of Raleigh, NC.
Extra holes were needed to decide the champion in the girls division. Mallory Fobes of Pinehurst, NC and Channing Garnett of Wake Forest, NC were tied after 36-holes. Both ladies headed to the 9th tee and hit drives left of the fairway and followed each other into the left greenside bunker. Garnett hit first to about twenty-five feet and proceeded to three putt while Fobes blasted hers to five feet and two-putted for the win. In third place was Victoria Ladd of Greensboro, NC who also earned low round award for her score of 79 during round one.
The Winternational Junior Series will hold its third event December 10-11, which will take place with one round on the famed Donald Ross design Pinehurst No. 2 and one round on the classic Pinehurst No. 3. Please visit www.juniorgolfpinehurst.com or contact Peter deYoung, Inc. at (910) 295-5661 to register or for further information.