A talented group of junior golfers took to the course for the 36-hole IJGT PURE Grips Junior Open at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Pinnacle Course required accuracy off the tee and put a premium on keeping the ball in play from tee to green. Scoring conditions were ideal yielding some low numbers in the Boys 15-19 Division.

Christopher Petefish of Scottsdale, won the Boys 15-19 Division title in a three-hole playoff after coming from six strokes behind on Sunday. Petefish used an impressive performance in the final round to get himself into a playoff with first-round leader Justin Shluker of Park City, Utah. Shluker carded a 4-under-par 67 on Saturday after playing almost flawless golf. His round included five birdies and only one bogey.

Petefish knew he had a lot of ground to make up, but it was not an insurmountable lead. He started Sunday’s round on the right foot birdieing the first two holes to put the pressure on Shluker. He would add two more birdies on the front nine to turn in 4-under-par 31. Shluker had some stumbles and relinquished the lead after nine holes. The back nine provided great theater as Petefish took it even deeper getting to 6-under-par after 14 holes. Shluker would not back down as he made clutch birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to get within one stroke of the lead going into the 440 yard closing hole on the Pinnacle Course.

Petefish missed his drive left and had to take an unplayable lie. After that he put his approach shot into the greenside bunker. Shluker was in prime postion off the tee and executed his approach perfectly, hitting the middle of the green. Both players were unable to get up and down in two shots finishing the tournament tied at 2-under-par 140. Petefish finished his round with a 4-under-par 67, while Shluker carded a 2-over-par 73.

The playoff started on hole #1 where both players made routine pars. On the second hole, Petefish had the advantage after Shluker missed the green in the right greenside bunker, but Shluker hit an amazing bunker shot to two feet. He used the entire cup to get his par and Petefish matched his four to force a third playoff hole. On the third hole, Petefish hit the middle of the fairway, while Shluker’s ball ended up in the desert on the left side. Shluker displayed great recovery skills as he hit an improbable punch-out and then hit his wedge shot to four feet. Petefish’s approach shot caught the back side of the green. Shluker was unable to convert his par and Petefish two-putted to earn the crown in the Boys 15-19 Division.

The key to the turnaround for Petefish was how he responded on the back nine during Saturday’s round. “I’m just thankful I had a chance after having five bogeys on the front and coming back with three birdies on the back,” commented Petefish.

Finishing in a tie for third place was Billy Comeaux of Tucson, AZ., and Colton Yates of Scottsdale, AZ., with a tournament score of 146.

Petefish’s score of 4-under-par 67 on Sunday was the low round of the day in any division, and earned him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which is given to the player who records the lowest score during Sunday's final round.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Ryan Rybicki of Remsen, N.Y., won again on the West Coast after putting together two solid rounds on the Pinnacle Course. His rounds of 82 and 80 were solid given the difficulty of the course. Rybicki built a large lead on Saturday and never looked back in the final round. He got off to a great start making two birdies on the front nine. Rybicki coasted to victory on the back nine finishing with an 18 shot victory. This was Rybicki’s third IJGT title of the Fall 2012 season. Being a shot maker’s golf course, it was critical that you focus on every shot. “It was hard. If you did not concentrate on one shot you could make a triple (bogey),” said Rybicki when asked about the Pinnacle Course at Troon North.

Finishing in second place in the Boys 14 & Under Division with a tournament total of 180 was Mikee Ordona of Upland, CA. RJ Sirota of Scottsdale, AZ., earned the third place trophy after finishing the tournament with a total score of 193.

Rybicki’s score of 80 on Sunday earned him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which is given to the player who records the lowest score during Sunday's final round.

The IJGT will take a break for the holidays, before returning to the links on January 19-20th, 2013 at Harmony Golf Preserve in Harmony, FL. The Johnny Miller design located just outside Orlando will be a great tournament featuring some of the most talented players in the Southeast part of the country.
 
To sign up for this event or others, or for more information, call 800.792.9143 or visit www.IJGT.com.
 
The IJGT provides exceptional junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game. As a tour that operates primarily throughout the academic year, the IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts three international events. Each event provides multi-day competition for junior golfers of all skill levels ages 9-19. Players representing 45 states and 43 countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park, and Harbour Town Golf Links.  Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Golf Digest/Golf World, morodZ, PURE Grips, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.
 
To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call 800.792.9143.
 
International Junior Golf Tour PURE Grips Junior Open
Final round results of the IJGT PURE Grips Junior Open at Troon North Golf Club conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed December 9, 2012. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees – 6844 yards, par 71 (72.2/147). Boys 14 & Under Division: Silver Tees – 6139 yards, par 71 (68.8./129).
 
Boys 15-19 Division – Black Tees, 6844 yards, Par 71
1. Christopher Petefish, Scottsdale, AZ *73-67--140
2. Justin Shluker, Park City, UT *67-73--140
3. Colton Yates, Scottsdale, AZ *76-70--146
3. Billy Comeaux, Tucson, AZ *72-74--146
5. Griffin Peters, Fountain Hills, AZ *75-75--150
6. John Souza, Phoenix, AZ *78-73--151
6. Thomas Avant, Chandler, AZ *76-75--151
8. James Russo, Scottsdale, AZ *78-74--152
8. Austin Stadeli, Scottsdale, AZ *75-77--152
8. Zach Stodola, Gilbert, AZ *73-79--152
11. Sam McKay, Scottsdale, AZ *73-80--153
12. Jino Sohn, Chandler, AZ *80-74--154
12. Andrew MacMillan, Scottsdale, AZ *76-78--154
14. Sam Engel, Scottsdale, AZ *78-77--155
15. Connor Nam, Scottsdale, AZ *75-81--156
16. Chase Jacobi, Scottsdale, AZ *77-80--157
16. Jackson Whisenhunt, Phoenix, AZ *76-81--157
18. Nicholas Rostain, Chandler, AZ *81-77--158
18. David Lee-Tolley, New York, NY *76-82--158
20. Dan Starzinski, Phoenix, AZ *82-78--160
21. Nick Singpradiph, Phoenix, AZ *83-80--163
21. Cade Mayer, Surprise, AZ *82-81--163
23. Dru Anderson, Scottsdale, AZ *84-81--165
23. Charles Goode, Tucson, AZ *84-81--165
23. Christopher Boyle, Hampshire, IL *82-83--165
26. Riley Schank, Anthem, AZ *84-82--166
27. Matt Walsh, Encinitas, CA *91-76--167
27. Ty Cobb Macias, Scottsdale, AZ *89-78--167
29. Ryan Garfield, Petaluma, CA *92-78--170
29. Trevor Gold, Eureka, IL *83-87--170
31. Michael Bacon, Scottsdale, AZ *89-82--171
31. Grant Rogers, Boulder, CO *86-85--171
33. Nick Kingston, Scottsdale, AZ *84-89--173
34. John Christifulli, Paradise Valley, AZ *87-87--174
35. Benjamin Kromann Hansen, Nakskov, Denmark *90-85--175
36. Jack Savage, Scottsdale, AZ *92-84--176
37. Kevin Tay, Paradise Valley, AZ *98-89--187
38. Michael Villanueva, Chandler, AZ *94-103--197
 
Did Not Finish
Blake Cannon, Scottsdale, AZ *76-JWD
Michael Christifulli, Paradise Valley, AZ *JWD
*Won in a playoff
 
Boys 14 & Under Division – Silver Tees, 6139 yards, Par 71
1. Ryan Rybicki, Remsen, NY *82-80--162
2. Mikee Ordona, Upland, CA *93-87--180
3. Rj Sirota, Scottsdale, AZ *102-91--193
4. Carson Bock, Phoenix, AZ *112-94--206