Thirteen year old Michael Cromie of Cary, NC (2010) fired a spectacular round in gusty conditions on Saturday to open the Back Creek Jr. Golf Classic, but it was Donnie Shin of Columbia, MD (2007) who kept it together for two rounds and came away with the win. Cromie, playing in his first FCWT event, teed it up on Saturday at 8:54 am off #10 and played his game. The 5' 6" 13 year old made 4 pars in a row on holes 12-15, then made birdie on #16 before finishing that nine with 2 more pars. He bogeyed #1 after making the turn, then made 2 birdies on #2 and 5 and only one more bogey before bringing it in at 1 over par on this 6612 yard, par 71 course. Michael had a 3 stroke lead over seventeen year old senior, Jason Kahn of Huntingdon Valley, PA, senior Warren West of Chestertown, MD, senior Brian Creghan of Radnor, PA, and Scott Juhl of Springfield, VA (2007) going into the final round.
But it was Donnie Shin of Columbia, MD (2007) who began the final round in a four-way tie for 6th that ended up victorious. Shin who carded the low round of the event with even par on Sunday, quietly came from behind to win by 3 strokes over Grant Gaugler III of Levittown, PA (2008). Sixteen year old Shin managed to do what no one else could, control the ball. On Sunday, he had 3 birdies and 3 bogeys on a day when the course saw 253 bogeys and 82 double bogeys. Gaugler who started the day 4 strokes back of the lead and in a tie for 11th, did what he came to do: earn an invitation to Sawgrass. Also earning Sawgrass invitations will be Michael Cromie, senior Jason Kahn of Huntingdon Valley, PA and Ryan Crum of South Salem, NY (2007). Crum, who opened the event with a 78, shot 75 on Sunday which was just enough to finish in the Top 5 and earn an invitation to Sawgrass.
This was Michael Cromie's first FCWT event. His family came up to stay with some friends in Media, PA and thought it was a good excuse to try our tour. He said he was just trying to hit greens today and make pars. His goal was to win the older division. "These were the toughest tournament conditions I've ever played in, I couldn't make a putt all day." He did, in fact, take the top honors of the 13-15 year olds. Followed by Ryan May of Auburn, NY (2008), who finished T11 overall and second among the 13-15 year olds. Finishing third out of this group and T19 overall was Jordan McMahon of Brockville, ON, CANADA (2008).
In the boys 11-12 division, Jay Pinkos of Clifton, VA (2011) held off Sean Kelly of Staten Island, NY (2011) by 1 stroke. Pinkos carded a round of 77 on Saturday that included a birdie on #6 and followed that up with an 83 on Sunday. Kelly, who won at Duke last season, posted round of 81-80 to finish ahead of John Reali of Searingtown, NY, 2011. Jay Pinkos wanted to "thank my mom & dad for bringing me here and the other competitors for playing well." In the Girls division, Megan Leineweber, a senior from Baltimore, MD won over Caroline Hoey of Garden City, NY (2007) and Kyla Martin of Madison, CT (2011). |
