First Posted: 7/10/2014
BLUFFTON — The Lima Junior Golf Associated changed up the format and had the golfers playing in teams at the Mast Memorial two-man scramble at the Bluffton Golf Club on Thursday.
But later this month the spotlight will be on several individuals from the LJGA circuit when they play in prestigious junior tournaments in California and Florida.
Bath’s Evan Hall qualified for the Callaway Junior World Championship from July 15-19 at Torrey Pines in San Diego and also qualified for the Optimist International Junior Championship July 24-29 at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., July 24-29. He will play in both tournaments.
Lima Central Catholic’s James Riepenhoff will play in the Optimist tournament for the second year in a row and St. Marys’ Carter Bowman will also play there.
Allen East’s Parker Frey and Lincolnview’s Joshah Rager also met the qualifying standard for the Optimist event.
The Callaway tournament is the largest junior tournament in the world, attracting around 1,200 players.
“This is a big deal, just the level of players there and the caliber of who I’m playing with is just an honor. There are people coming from over 50 countries and from 42 states and being one of them is just an honor whether I play well or not,” Hall said.
Hall was in the lineup when Bath finished eighth in Division II in the boys state golf tournament last fall. He says that is the only tournament experience that could compare to teeing it up later this month in two big international competitions.
“It’s close. I thought that (the state tournament) was a big deal when it happened, and it was. Don’t get me wrong. But moving on to international, not just state or country, but all over the world, it’s a step farther,” Hall said.
Riepenhoff said the experience at the Optimist tournament is similar. “It’s so much fun. It’s such a fun experience, there are so many kids from across the world. The kid who won it last year is from some country I never even heard of.
“I played 14-15 (age group) last year and didn’t play that well but it was a great experience,” he said.
Bowman said, “It (the Optimist tournament) is like probably one of the biggest tournaments I’ll ever play in as a junior. Playing at a course like that is really going to build my confidence when I come back for high school golf. Hopefully, it will get my name out a little more (to college coaches).”
In Thursday’s tournament, Westin Young and Riepenhoff won the boys 16-18 division with a 64 and Hall and Bowman were second at 65.
Kylie Speicher and Morgan Barnett were the girls 16-18 winners with a 71 and Maggie Brodbeck and Jessica Armstrong were second with a 79.
Andrew Simpson and Jack Rubin won the boys 14-15 age group with a 68 and Sam Reed and Jacob Good were second at 76.
Sam Reed and Jacob Good were second at 76 after a two-hole playoff win over Jared Hernandez and Daniel Magowan.
In the boys 12-13 age group, Christian Nartker and Austin Radcliff led the way with a 38. Cole Fletcher was second with a 42.
In the girls 15-and-under, Mary Kelly Mulcahy and Erin Mulcahy won with a 43 and Jill Schmitmeyer and Meghan Mulcahy were second at 46.
The 11-and-under boys and girls division, Nick Prater and Cole Koenig won in a four-hole playoff over Chase Beery and Clay Wilsey after both teams shot 33.