Braselton, GA (November 25th) – The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour traveled up to the suburbs of Atlanta this weekend to host the North Georgia Junior Open at the Chateau Elan Golf Club. The mornings were cold which caused all of the players to prepare with frigid fingers. The start of the round was delayed by roughly an hour due to frost but that did not stop the event from finishing. Players this weekend were competing for National Junior Golf Scoreboard points as well as South Carolina Junior Golf Association points. The winners of each division will be invited to compete in the Tour Championship in several weeks at the ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, FL. The competition was fierce on the course this weekend as the players fought through the tough weather conditions to be crowned the champion of the North Georgia Junior Open.
The Boys 15-18 division champion was Shea Sylvester, from Roswell, GA, who shot a two-day total of 148 (+6). Sylvester showed his consistency throughout by shooting 74 on both days en route to the victory. Sylvester finished tied for the lead in birdies, with 5, for his division during the weekend. He also led the field in par 3 performances, most pars or better, and most par breakers. Joey Lawrence, a native of Augusta, GA, was one of the two players to tie for second place with a two-day total of 153 (+11). Lawrence showed steady play throughout the weekend, finishing tied for second for the most pars made with 22. Lawrence also finished atop the division in par 4 performance, and second in most pars or better. Jared O’Kelley, from Canton, GA, was the other player tied for second with a two-day total of 153 (+11). O’Kelley finished the weekend with the most pars made (23), as well as tied for second in par 4 performance, and third in most pars or better.
Gracie Henderson ran away with the championship during Sunday’s round, shooting a 3-under 68 for the day. Henderson, the Norcross, GA native, finished with a two-day total of 153 (+11). She was able to mark seven birdies on the card en route to her 17-stroke improvement for the title. Henderson led her division in most statistical categories, including total birdies, total eagles, par 3 performance, par 4 performance, and par 5 performance, and most pars or better. Katie Bishop, from Cleveland, TN, took second place in the upper girls division carding a two-day total of 162 (+20). Bishop finished second in total pars, total birdies, par 5 performances, and par 4 performances. Chandler Danielson, from Etowah, NC, finished third at Chateau Elan with a two-day total of 165 (+23). Danielson finished with the most pars made, and also second in most pars or better and par 5 performance.
The Boys 11-14 division was won by S.M. Lee, of Buford, GA, who came in with a final score of 147 (+5). Lee took advantage of the calmer weather on Sunday by shooting a one-under 70, helping him to secure the victory. Lee, who always plays well at HJGT events, was excited to take home his first tour victory of the year. Lee finished with the lead in total birdies, par 4 performance, par 3 performance, most par breakers, and most pars or better. Hunter Dunagan, from Martinez, GA, took second place with a two-day total of 150 (+8). Dunagan finished tied for the best par 3 performance, the most pars made, and also with the best par 5 performances. Chandler Eaton, from Alpharetta, GA, took third place with a final score of 155 (+13). Eaton finished tied for the best par 3 performances, and also was third in par 4 performance and most pars or better.
Min Ji Kim, from Cumming, GA, won the Girls 11-14 division with a two-day total of 156 (+14). Kim showed her consistency throughout the weekend, shooting a 77 and a 79, also giving herself the best pa4 average for the weekend. Kim also led the field in total pars, total birdies, and most pars or better. Ashley Brown, the Alpharetta, GA native, came in second place with a final score of 1669 (+27). Brown led her division in par 3 performance, most par breakers, and also par 5 performances. Annika Blanton, from Dacula, GA, came in third place carding a final score of 178 (+36). Blanton finished with the second most birdies made, as well as third in par 3 performance, par 4 performance, and par 5 performance.