Shin, Farmer claim Jr. Masters titles
Brittany Shin captured her second girls’ division championship Friday after the final round of the 23rd annual Nolan Henke-Patty Berg Junior Masters at River Hall Country Club.
Shin, who led all three rounds, held off Kendell Johnson and last year’s champion Sydney Shrader to regain the title she first won in 2012. Shin shot an even-par 72 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 216 to win by two strokes. “This year I was happy with the scores because they were lower than when I won three years ago. It shows how I have improved as a player,” she said. Shin, who enters Ida Baker High this fall as a freshman, is uncertain about playing on the Baker team this year.
“I have played a few AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tournaments this year, and I think that’s what I will be doing this coming year,” she said. She recently played in Maryland, and finished sixth in the 18-under division.
Johnson (218) was paired with Shin for the final round, but because of a mix-up Shrader (219) played in the threesome ahead of the leaders.
“My group was flying, so I had no idea how they (the leaders) were doing.” Shrader said.
So Johnson played close to Shin, only one stroke down through 16 holes. Then on 17, she bogeyed and left Shin with a two-stroke cushion.
“On 17, I killed my second shot over the green,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if it was too much adrenaline or what. I had an opportunity to chip close, but didn’t. Then I missed a six-foot putt.” ?Both Johnson and Shin parred the final hole. Johnson ended up with a 1-under 71. Shrader finished third after a closing round of 73.
Friday’s weather was warm, but beautiful, and made for a great conclusion to the tournament.
The final round of the 13-15 division was tight all day. Luke Farmer and Thomas Salanito entered the day tied at 141. Salanito forged ahead during the front nine, taking a two-stroke lead. Farmer charged back with birdies on 12 and 13 to pull even. The boys played even through 16. On 17, Salanito tapped in his par, but Farmer faced a 10-footer for par. He hit it straight and it went in.
“I closed my eyes when he shot it.” Salanito said. “Then I heard the ball drop and everyone screaming, so I knew we were even into the last hole.”
On 18, they both were on the green in two, but Farmer was closer. Salanito missed his 23-foot putt for birdie, but Farmer sank his 10-footer to win the division title by one stroke 211 to 212. Mick Bernet from Zurich, Switzerland, was a distant third at 221.
“We came here with no expectations, and ended up second,” Salanito’s father, Charles said. “The way he played this week was truly remarkable.”
It was a great week for Farmer of Estero, who played River Hall once a year ago, and during the practice round. He competed the previous three years at Cypress Lake Country Club, which is closed while undergoing renovations that will keep the tournament at River Hall for the next two years.
Eric Grimes led Tommy Mott by two going into the final round of the boys’ 16-18 division. Grimes just graduated from Community School of Naples, and has a scholarship to play for Stetson University this fall.
“I got off to a hot start with two birdies in the first three holes.” Grimes said. “I was up by five, but he (Mott) came back with three birdies on 10, 11 and 12.”
On 14, Grimes, who closed with a 1-over 73, made a par to keep a one-stroke lead. Then on 15 he hit a birdie to increase his lead to two. Mott bogeyed 17 leaving Grimes (218) with a three shot cushion, which proved to be the winning margin. Mott shot a closing 74 for a 221 total. First-round leader Christian Taylor finished third with his best round of the tourney, a 71 for a 225 total. Taylor was the only 16-18 year-old to shoot an under-par round for the tournament.
“I didn’t really fit at Cypress,” Grimes said. “My strength is my irons. River Hall was much more to my liking.”
Asked about his play this week, Grimes said, “I have played well before, but not three rounds consecutively like this week.”
Ross Lally was the low scorer from Cape Coral in the boys’ 16-18 division, ending with an 82 for 240 and tied for 12th place.
In the boys’ 13-15 division, the lowest Cape golfer was Mason Kiernan, who finished eighth with a final round 75 for a 229 total.
First time Cape Coral player, Gregory Moore, 13, carded 257. After finishing he smiled and said, “I met my goal. I wanted to shoot in the 80s every day, and I did it!”
The tournament raised more than $12,000 in junior golf college scholarships.