Event #7 Results

JOBE WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE AND MCGOWAN EDGES HOWELL

VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA

This weekend, the Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst convened for its second of three events at the Pinehurst Centennial No. 8 Course.  Unfavorable scoring conditions challenged series members as temperatures rarely hit 50 degrees and strong winds played havoc on shot selection throughout the 36 holes of competition.  Although winds gusted in the 20-30 mph range on Sunday’s final round, some scores were lower as players fought for position in the seventh event of the thirteenth Winternational season.

In the Junior/Senior Division, two former Winternational Junior Series All-Americans battled it out from the start.  Michael McGowan, of nearby Southern Pines, NC held the lead through round one with a 1-over par 73.  Not far behind was Hunter Howell, from Raeford, NC who fired a first round 77.  Starting Sunday’s final round with a four shot deficit to overcome, Howell quickly gained two on McGowan through four holes of play.  Howell, Event 6 Champion, gained another stroke on McGowan through eight holes to trim the deficit to just one.  True to form, however, McGowan fought back on their ninth hole with a birdie three as Howell made bogey to extend the lead back to three.  On their eleventh hole, Howell again tried to make a move with birdie on the long par 5.  McGowan would maintain his then two-shot advantage until he again pulled away with a strong birdie 4 on his fifteenth hole.  Howell made one last effort on the eighteenth hole, but it would prove too late as McGowan captured his second event title of the season with a two-day total of 73-77-150.  Howell finished runner-up with a total of 152.

In the Freshman/Sophomore Division, Brandon Jobe, of Fayetteville, NC won his third consecutive series event to take a commanding lead in the season long points race.  Jobe began the weekend with a tournament low, even par 72 on Saturday’s first round.  With an eight shot cushion on his nearest competitor, Jobe calmly put together another solid round in the more difficult conditions on Sunday with a 37-40-77 making a two-day total of 149.  In runner-up position was Douglass Johnson of Pinehurst, NC.  Johnson, fended off charging Bert Subin, also of Pinehurst, who finished one-shot behind in third place.

FULL LEADERBOARD

Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst
Course No. 8, 6698 yards, Par 72
Final Round Summary
Boys

Pos
1. Brandon Jobe, Fayetteville, NC, 72-77--149
2. Michael McGowan, Southern Pines, NC, 73-77--150
3. Hunter Howell, Raeford, NC, 77-75--152
4. Douglass Johnson, Pinehurst, NC, 80-82--162
T5. Yaroslav Merkulov, Penfield, NY, 84-79--163
T5. Bert Subin, Pinehurst, NC, 80-83--163
7. David Cellura, Penfield, NY, 85-79--164

Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst
Course No. 8, 5763 yards, Par 72
Final Round Summary
Girls

Pos        
1. Desire Blaauw, West End, NC, 78-89--167

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