| After an 1 1/2 hour frost delay on Saturday, it warmed up at the FCWT Purdue Junior Golf Classic. By noon it was in the high 50's. The course was in excellent condition with green speeds running to an 11 on the stimp meter.
Fletcher Coonan of Maitland, FL (2006) made the most of Saturday's round firing a 2 under par round of 70 to take the early lead over Christopher Williamson of Johnston, IA (2007). Williamson who posted a round of even par on Saturday had 3 birdies on the day and entered Sunday's round with a one stroke advantage over Joe Smith of Champaign, IL (2008). On Sunday after a half an hour frost delay, Smith played his front nine at one under par. As the weather remained cold and windy with temperatures in the 50s, a case of nerves may have set in for Smith on the back nine as he struggled with holes 12 through 14. Even so, Smith played well enough to finish in a four-way tie for the lead at the end of 36 holes. So this field of 67 boys came down to a playoff between: Joe Smith of Champaign, IL, Kyle Thomas of Fishers, IN (last season's Purdue Champion), Christopher Williamson of Johnston, IA (2007) and overnight leader Fletcher Coonan of Maitland, FL (2006).
After starting on hole #9, two players were eliminated, Kyle Thomas with a double bogey 6 and Coonan with a bogey 5. Williamson and Smith both made pars and advanced in the playoff. Both players went back to #9 to dual it out. Joe Smith clinched the title with a 12 foot birdie putt after Chris knocked his chip to 2 feet for par.
The 2004 Purdue Champion came out ready to defend her title. On Saturday, Ellen Mueller of Evansville, IN (2007), carded a round of even par to lead the field by 8 strokes at the Purdue Junior Golf Classic going into Sunday's round. On Sunday, Miss Mueller, who won at Cog Hill last weekend, carded a round of 77 (+5) to finish 23 strokes ahead of the rest of the field and earn her 2nd Purdue Championship. Ellen who was playing in her 3rd event of the season has been in contention each week. At Notre Dame, Aimee Neff edged her out in a playoff, but last week it was Ellen's turn as she finished 3 strokes ahead of Aimee to win at Cog Hill. Ellen led every statistical category in this event including birdies and pars for the event.
Caitlin Fortner of Greeneville, TN (2007) finished second in her first FCWT event. Senior Lauren Brooks, of Waunakee, WI, finished in 3rd place.
In the boys 13-15 division, last season's 11-12 Champion Al Jennings III, of Fort Wayne, IN (2010) took the first round lead with a round of +3 (75). One stroke back after Saturday's round was 14 year old Alex Lyall of Novi, MI (2008), playing in his first FCWT event. Scott Blosser of Columbus, OH (2008) and Adam Sumrall of South Bend, IN (2009) were tied for 3rd at +7. On Sunday, Sumrall fired the Low Round for this division of 73 and won by three strokes over Jennings. This is Sumrall first win of the season after finishing T3 in the season opener at Notre Dame. Will Beard led this division with 5 birdies for the event. |
