International Junior Golf Tour Recap

It was two gorgeous days the top junior golfers in the nation faced when traveling to Bluffton, South Carolina to compete in the International Junior Golf Tour 36-hole event this weekend at Hilton Head International. The weather could not have been any better with sunny skies and little breeze as the juniors played a course with challenging greens and manicured fairways.

In the Boys 15-19 Division Jonathan Hardee of Greer, SC, took home the trophy after a one-hole-playoff with Kevin Stallings of Greenville, North Carolina. Hardee had a very solid weekend after posting a one-under par 70 on the first day and then shooting a 75 in the final round to end up at three-over-par for a total of 145. After finishing the round tied with Stallings, Hardee made it a short playoff after making a birdie on the first hole. This was Hardee's first Event with the IJGT. When asked him about his keys going into this tournament, he responded, "I was not worried about winning. I just wanted to see where my game was."

Kevin Stalling (HHIJGA) ended up in second place after firing rounds of 73-72 for a total of 145. In third place was Poom Pattaropong (HHIJGA) of Bangkok, Thailand. Pattaropong climbed up the leaderboard shooting 76-70 for a total of 146. This was Poom's sixth time being top-five with the IJGT.

In the Boys U-14 Division, Christian Thornton (HHIJGA) of Chicago, IL, ended up with his first victory with the IJGT after shooting 74-83. After a first round of 74 he took the lead by eight shots and never let his lead get away from him. When asked about his goals for the weekend he said, "I just wanted to post some good scores and build my confidence moving forward this season." He added that "my favorite clubs in my bag [were] my 8 iron and my wedges. These clubs really helped me out this weekend."

Finishing in second place was Kevin Ying (HHIJGA) of Shanghai, China, shooting rounds of 82-82 for a total of 164. This was Kevin's second top-three finish in two Events with the IJGT. Peter Kelesis (HHIJGA) of Las Vegas, NV, placed third with rounds of 82-87.

In the Girls U-19 Division, Ayaka Nakayama (HHIJGA) from Kanagawa, Japan, claimed her second title of the fall season, firing a one-under-par 70 during the final round for a total of three-under-par 139. Nakayama had an impressive start to the tournament recording an aggressive two-under-par 68 in the first round. She accredited her victory to putting: "My putting was very good. I did not have any three putts during the tournament."

Following her lead were Luiza Altmann (HHIJGA) from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Moyu Sasaki (HHIJGA) from Tokyo, Japan, who battled for second place. Altmann began carding a first round one-over-par 72, closely followed by Sasaki, who recorded a two-over-par 73. Both ladies tied for the second place title, shooting rounds of 72-76 and 73-75 respectively for a total score of 148.

The IJGT will make its next stop at Falcon's Fire Golf Club, Kissimmee, FL, for a two day Tour Event starting on the 17th of September, 2011. The winners of the Boys 15-19 Division, the Girls U-19 division and the Boys U-14 will qualify for the Tournament of Champions at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, FL.