Final Results - IJGT at Hershey Links G.C.

International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) Presents
Final Challenge at Hershey Links
Hummelstown, Pa.
Sunday, October 27, 2013

Marone Earns Second Win of the Season

Basso Holds on for Victory

HUMMELSTOWN, Pa. - The International Junior Golf Tour's (IJGT) Northeast Tour was in Hummelstown, Pa. on Oct 26-27 for The Final Challenge at Hershey Links. The two-day, 36-hole tournament was hosted by Hershey Links, with players competing for national rankings and IJGT Merit Points. The field consisted of 78 players, ages 10-19, representing seven states.

With Hershey Links set to close for good in early November, the course played host to its final IJGT Event. A common stop on the IJGT schedule, Hershey Links is situated on 175 acres of what used to be farmland. The course, a former host of a Division III National Championship, features a wide ravine that comes into play on seven holes, as well as numerous ponds, bunkers, and tall fescue throughout the course. Weather played a huge factor with gusts up to 30 miles per hour and temperatures in the 40s.

The Boys 15-19 Division came down to the final hole, and for a second time this season, Eamon Marone of Belvidere, N.J., came out on top. Marone opened his tournament by shooting a 40 on the front nine. He turned things around quickly, shooting an even-par 36 on the back, including a birdie on No. 10. His score of 76 put him one back of Nick Geiman of York, Pa., who shot a first-round 75 to take the lead. David Ross of Lorton, Va., also shot a 76, and joined Geiman and Marone in the final pairing during the final round. Brendan Berry of Great Falls, Va., Jack Peden of Vienna, Va., and Ethan Bunzel of Scarsdale, N.Y. all fired a 77 to sit two strokes back.

Marone got off to a blistering start during the final round. He birdied the opening hole, a dogleg right par-5, and then drove the green at the third hole. Marone could not sink the eagle putt, but picked up another birdie to sit at 2-under-par through three holes. Both Ross and Geiman opened their rounds with three pars, and followed it up with another par at the fourth hole, while Marone bogeyed. The three flip-flopped the lead throughout the front nine, but Marone's finished with a 37 and opened up a two-stroke lead on both of his partners entering the back nine.

In front of the group, things were not going as smoothly for most players. The wind became stronger and the likes of Berry, Peden, and Bunzel slowly faded from the lead. Rij Patel of Hunt Valley, Md., turned his game up a notch while most of the field struggled. Patel carded a first round 80, but responded with a final-round 74, including birdies at No. 11 and No. 17 as part of a 1-under-par 35 on the back nine to shoot a 74. Already in the clubhouse with a final total of 154, Patel waited as Marone, Geiman, and Ross finished their rounds.

The lead continued to switch hands, and after a birdie for Ross, a par for Geiman, and a double-bogey for Marone at the 15th, the three were tied at 8-over-par for the tournament. Marone jumped back ahead with a par on the long par-5 16th, picking up a stroke on Geiman and two strokes on Ross. Marone had another par on hole No. 17, but Ross birdied to get within one, while Geiman fell two strokes back with a bogey.

The tournament came down to the 18th hole, an uphill par-5 back to the clubhouse. None of the three found the fairway with their drives, but each hit great shots out of the rough and were inside 100 yards for their approach shots. Geiman's shot landed on the front of the green, and he had a long uphill putt to a back hole location. Ross also landed on the front, with Marone's shot to the middle of the green giving him the best look at birdie. After both Geiman and Ross were unable to connect from long distance, Marone was left with a two-putt from 20 feet to seal the victory. He came close to finishing in fashion, as his birdie putt burned the left edge of the cup, before tapping in for par and the victory with a final score of 76-76-152.

Marone noted the turning point of his victory was when, "I got up-and-down at holes 16 and 17 which was big in moment in the scale of things."

Ross finished second with scores of 76-77-153, and Geiman and Patel tied for third place with tournament totals of 154. Patel's 74 won him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award.

For the fifth time this season, Joe Parrini of York, Pa., won the Boys 14 & Under Division.
Parrini's card was filled with birdies during the first round, as he scored five of them, including four on the front nine. He finished his first round with a score of 79.

Jack Halleron of Timonium, Md. did not have nearly as many birdies as Parrini, but he avoided any big mistakes en route to taking the lead after the first round. Halleron carded 11 pars to go along with his lone birdie at No. 12 to shoot a 77. Teddy Trosset of Cooperstown, N.Y., fired an 82, highlighted by a birdie at hole No. 5, one of the toughest holes on the course, to join the final group with Halleron and Parrini in the final round.

Things did not go as smoothly for the group, as the three struggled on their opening nines in the final round. With the greens becoming firm from the cold weather, it was difficult to stick any shots close to the hole. Trosset shot the low nine-hole score of the three, finishing with a 41. Halleron's two-stroke lead remained intact, as both he and Parrini shot 43s.

Trosset fell back from the group after a rough start to his final nine. Halleron also had his first bad hole of the week, leaving Parrini alone on top. To Halleron's credit, he responded on the par-4, second hole with a birdie at the third hole. Parrini also made birdie at the third hole, to maintain his one-stroke advantage.

The tires came off the tracks for Halleron after that, and Parrini played it safe the rest of the way in, shooting a front-nine 39 to finish with a score of 82 for the day. With a total of 161 for the tournament, Parrini earned the four-stroke victory over Trosset, whose final totals were 82-83-165, with Leo Hernandez of Stewartsville, N.J., finishing third with scores of 82-84-166.

"You just had to hit the low punch shots and take the wind out of play," Parrini pointed out as the biggest key to his victory.

In the Girls Division, Cara Basso of Downingtown, Pa., rode a sizzling start during the first round on her way to victory. Starting on the back nine, Basso quickly got into red numbers with a birdie on the par-3, 11th. She added another birdie at No. 13, navigating the conditions to perfection. A couple setbacks at holes Nos. 15-16 brought her back to even-par, but Basso responded with a birdie on No. 18 to finish her opening nine at 1-under-par.

The winds picked up as the day went on, and Basso was unable to match her brilliant start after making the turn. She did, however, avoid making any big mistakes after a double-bogey on No. 1. Basso, like many in the field, could not solve the tough fifth and sixth holes, bogeying each on her way to a front-nine 40. Her final score of 40-34-74 was the low round of any division and put her seven shots ahead of Katie Walsh of Baldwinsville, N.Y., and Haley Bookholdt of Columbus, N.J., entering the final round.

Basso started strong again during the final round with four pars. Her only blemishes on her opening nine were a bogey at No. 14 and a double-bogey at No. 17, on her way to a 39. Basso ran into some troubles on the front side with double-bogeys on Nos. 4, 5, and 7.

While Basso was struggling, a few groups ahead of her, Liza Freed of Alexandria, Va., was making a run. Freed had been 10 shots back of Basso entering the final round and was 11 back at the turn, but she only bogeyed twice on her final nine of the weekend, finishing with scores of 84-78-162 for the tournament.

Basso was able to hold on, though, as she carded a par at the eighth hole and a bogey at the ninth hole to earn the three-stroke victory. Basso's final scores were 74-85-159. Bookholdt and Carley Hopton of Madison, N.J., tied for third with a final total of 164.

Freed's 78 was good enough to win her the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award.

The IJGT Northeast tour will be hosting their final Event of the fall season on Nov. 2-3 at Virginia Beach National Golf Club in Virginia Beach, Va. It will be the first time the course has hosted an IJGT Event. To sign up for this event, or others, visit www.IJGT.com/info or call 888.936.5327.

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, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Kiawah Island Resort, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Sundog Eyewear, Golfweek morodZ, PURE Grips, and the International Junior Golf Academy.

To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com/info or call 888.936.5327.

HUMMELSTOWN, Pa. - Final-round results of the IJGT Final Challenge at Hershey Links conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed October 27, 2013. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees - 6,658 yards, Par 72 (72.0/133) Boys 14 & Under Division: Blue Tees - 5,919 yards, Par 71 (68.6/124) Girls Division: White Tees - Round 1 - 5,648 yards, Par 71 (74.0/132) - Round 2 - 5,843 yards, Par 72 (75.1/135)

Weather: Saturday: Sunny with temperatures in the low 40's with 35-40 mph winds
Sunday: Cloudy with temperatures in the low 40's with 30-35 mph winds

International Junior Golf Tour
The Final Challenge at Hershey Links
Hummelstown, Pa.
October 26-27, 2013

Boys 15-19 Division - Blue Tees, 6,658 yards, Par 72
1. Eamon Marone, Belvidere, NJ, *76-76--152
2. David Ross, Lorton, VA, *76-77--153
3. Rij Patel, Hunt Valley, MD, *80-74--154
3. Nick Geiman, York, PA, *75-79--154
5. Jack Peden, Vienna, VA, *77-79--156
6. Brandon Berry, Great Falls, VA, *77-80--157
7. Jack Faraci, Port Jefferson Station, NY, *78-81--159
8. Patrick Sheerer, Gibsonia, PA, *81-80--161
8. Gus Minkin, York, PA, *78-83--161
10. Mike Bliss, Newtown, PA, *81-81--162
10. Brandan Bree, Kennett Square, PA, *78-84--162
12. Nick Rencis, Long Valley, NJ, *85-78--163
12. Ethan Bunzel, Scarsdale, NY, *77-86--163
14. Joe Tigani, Hockessin, DE, *85-79--164
14. Jack DePerrior, Rochester, NY, *80-84--164
16. Edward Owen, Baltimore, MD, *85-80--165
16. Matthew Bastian, Media, PA, *81-84--165
18. Kyle Grube, Indiana, PA, *87-79--166
18. Benjamin Kotler, Penn Valley, PA, *80-86--166
18. Ryan Bree, Kennett Square, PA, *77-89--166
21. Austin Green, Fayetteville, PA, *80-87--167
22. Andrew Nappi, Glen Rock, NJ, *89-81--170
22. Kellen Jordan, Spring Lake, NJ, *86-84--170
22. Caleb Bryant, New Freedom, PA, *85-85--170
25. Garrett Bastardi, Boalsburg, PA, *81-90--171
26. Thomas Kaczan, Clark, NJ, *88-84--172
27. Blake Reifsnyder, Sinking Spring, PA, *86-87--173
28. Jonathan Solimano, Montvale, NJ, *91-83--174
28. George Cultraro, Wyckoff, NJ, *88-86--174
28. Matthew Singer, New York, NY, *86-88--174
28. Patrick McDonnell, Pittsburgh, PA, *85-89--174
32. Michael Bushman, North Potomac, MD, *87-89--176
33. Cameron Hsieh, New York, NY, *91-86--177
34. Nick Fizzano, Newtown Square, PA, *95-83--178
35. Kyle Finnican, New Canaan, CT, *92-90--182
36. David Sinisi, Harrisburg, PA, *96-87--183
37. Mike McCormick, Stewartsville, NJ, *92-92--184
37. Daniel Melcher, New York, NY, *91-93--184
39. Bobby Hapanowicz, Presto, PA, *95-90--185
40. Colin Patrick, Newtown, CT, *97-89--186
41. Jack Walter, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, *91-96--187

DID NOT FINISH
Ethan Means, Landenberg, PA, *89--DQ (Rule 6-3a)
Brad Holzer, Rye, NY, *94--JWD

Boys 14 & Under Division - Blue Tees, 5,919 yards, Par 71
1. Joe Parrini, York, PA, *79-82--161
2. Teddy Trosset, Cooperstown, NY, *82-83--165
3. Leo Hernandez, Stewartsville, NJ, *82-84--166
4. Griffin Smith, Holland, PA, *83-84--167
5. Jack Halleron, Timonium, MD, *77-92--169
6. Lukas Clark, Holland, PA, *90-80--170
7. West Shaw, Alexandria, VA, *83-88--171
8. Ford Bennett, Owings Mills, MD, *86-86--172
9. Alex Lawson, Pittsburgh, PA, *88-87--175
10. Mac Webster, Baltimore, MD, *92-86--178
11. Garrett Engle, Harrisburg, PA, *87-97--184

Girls Division - White Tees, Round 1 - 5,648 yards, Par 71 | Round 2 - 5,843 yards, Par 72
1. Cara Basso, Downingtown, PA, *74-85-159
2. Liza Freed, Alexandria, VA, *84-78-162
3. Carley Hopton, Madison, NJ, *84-80-164
3. Haley Bookholdt, Columbus, NJ, *81-83-164
5. Linda Wang, Fresh Meadows, NY, *87-80-167
6. Danielle Greene, East Setauket, NY, *85-85-170
7. Megan McLean, Lebanon, NJ, *85-87-172
8. Emily Connors, Lancaster, NY, *86-88-174
9. Madison Braman, Loudonville, NY, *85-91-176
10. Lacey Bensing, Ephrata, PA, *91-86-177
11. Katie Walsh, Baldwinsville, NY, *81-98-179
12. Anessa Amin, Easton, PA, *90-90-180
13. Frida Henningsson, Rye, NY, *93-88-181
14. Synclaire Kuhn, McMurray, PA, *90-92-182
15. Victoria Parker, Lewiston, NY, *97-86-183
15. Junghye Kim, Jamesville, NY, *91-92-183
15. Jenni York, Great Neck, NY, *89-94-183
18. Kate Evanko, West Chester, PA, *94-95-189
19. Samantha Yao, Berwyn, PA, *99-93-192
20. Meghan Fahey, Villanova, PA, *104-91-195
21. Julia Hyman, Allentown, PA, *110-88-198
22. Annie Caputo, Manlius, NY, *101-103-204
23. Gracie Stillman, Lititz, PA, *127-114-241