ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (December 20, 2020)—Sunday’s junior stroke play portion of the Ford-Picard Christmas Classic at the Wild Dunes Resort Links Course featured stellar play, particularly within the Boys 13-18 age group.
Gage Howard (Woodruff) claimed victory in that division after closing with a remarkable back nine score of 5-under-par 29 for a tournament total of 5-under 65. Howard birdied four of his last five holes to post his best-ever score in competition.
Gage Howard (Photo Courtesy of SCJGA)
Major Lenning (Simpsonville) also birdied four of his last five holes but fell one shot short, finishing in solo second place after an impressive round of 66. Local player Luke Walmet (Mt. Pleasant) rounded out the top three, posting a 1-under 69.
Taking the title in the Girls 13-18 division was Columbia's Lextyn Petz, who shot 5-over-par 75, good enough for a one-shot victory. Petz sealed the win on the 18th hole, finishing with a birdie to edge Pauline's Madison Peake, who carded 6-over-par 76 and secured second place. Abbeville's Caroline Whitt rounded out the top three at 12 over par.
Lextyn Petz (Photo Courtesy of SCJGA)
In the Boys 12 and Under division, Thomas Sabalis (Columbia) found the winner's circle with a par in a one-hole playoff against Columbia's Zim Atkinson. Both posted rounds of 1-over-par 37 on the tricky front nine of the Links Course.
In the Girls 12 and Under division, Hannah Marsden (Myrtle Beach) took the win with a nine-hole total of 53.
All tournament information, including and results can be found on the SCJGA homepage (www.scjga.org).