Clarksville, TN – The weather was the biggest challenge this weekend as 58 junior golfers from all over the south descended on Clarksville to play in the United States Junior Golf Tour held at Swan Lake Golf Course.
Hendersonville’s Jacob Sherlin and Rossview High School’s Hanley Long won the boys and girls high school division.
Sherlin shot a two day 155 to beat Tyler Howard of Memphis by three shots. Long made up six shots to overcome the first round leader, Bailey Tyree of Benton Kentucky, while shooting a 164 two day total.The USJGT sponsors tournaments all over the south, inviting junior golfers, ages 8-18, to compete with some of the best golfers in their age group. It also offers tournament opportunities for young golfers to give them the chance to improve on their tournament skills, and to play in a “pressure” environment to test their game.
Long said her round was pretty steady today, considering she didn’t start the day with a quadruple bogey on the first hole like she did on Saturday.
“Yesterday, I started with an 8 on #1 and I was scrambling from there, so making a par on that hole today was a great start. It wasn’t as windy today too so that helped, and I seemed to have a better “feel” for the greens today.”
Long was six shot back of the first round leader entering Sunday’s final round, and seemed to be more comfortable as the round went on.
“I seemed to get some momentum on the back side, and finished the last three holes one under par. I should have birdied 18 but left my putt short.”
Hanley won her division at last year’s Hank Miles Junior City Amateur, and could be a golfer to watch in the Clarksville area.
“Other than the weather, we had a great tournament, said Vaughn. It’s early in the year, so the grounds are still recovering from winter, but all in all, I think the field did well.”
The USJGT hopes to sponsor another event in the fall at Swan Lake.
For more information and to check the final scoreboard from this weekends tournament, visit www.usjgt.net.