The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) could not have found better conditions for the Arizona Open at Wigwam Golf Resort, March 29-30, 2013. Held on the beautiful Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed Gold Course, the IJGT Arizona Open featured 60 elite junior golfers ages 9-19 representing 17 states and Washington D.C., as well as Canada and Colombia. Juniors battled for the title as well as IJGT Merit Points and national recognition over the two-day, 36-hole Event.

The Boys 15-19 Division came down to the wire on Sunday. Christopher Korte of Highlands Ranch, CO., led the division heading into the final round after carding a 3-under-par 69 in the first round. Korte was awarded the KENTWOOL Socks Lo-Pro Award for his exceptional performance Saturday.

Just behind him was Li Chen of Westminster, CO., who carded a 2-under-par 70. Hot on Chen’s heals were Johnathan Hudson of Western Springs, IL., and Sean Carlon of Albuquerque, N.M. Both came in with an even-par 72 after the first round. In fact, 11 juniors carded a 74 or lower in the first round.

It was anyone’s title heading into the final round. Billy Comeaux of Tucson, AZ., climbed to the top of the pack with an exceptional final round.  Comeaux began the round five strokes off the lead after carding a 2-over-par 74 in the first round. He started out with an eagle on No. 1, the confidence boost he needed to propel him to victory. He headed into the clubhouse with a 3-under-par 69 scorecard in hand; enough to seal his victory and the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award.

Even with his phenomenal final-round score, Comeaux only won the Event by one stroke. Brothers, Johnathan and Daniel Hudson of Western Springs, IL., and first-round leader Korte finished in a three-way tie for second place carding even-par 144 for the tournament.

It was no blowout in the Boys 14 & Under Division either. Remington Hirano of Honolulu, took an early lead in the division carding a 4-over-par 76 in the first round. His closest competitor was William Sheedy of Washington, D.C., who was four strokes back heading into the final round.

Sheedy had a mere four bogeys on the day to bring him into the clubhouse with a 4-over-par 76, propelling him to a 12-over-par tournament total, winning the event by a single stroke.

Hirano finished the Event in second place carding 13-over-par 157. Griffin Cooper of Yerington, NV., took home third place with a tournament total of 20-over-par 164.

The Girls Division played unlike any other this weekend, as Natalia Forero of Cali, Colombia ran away with the title. Forero was awarded the KENTWOOL Socks Lo-Pro Award for her first-round 2-over-par 74, but started the final round with Haylin Harris of Tucson, AZ., hot on her heals with a 5-over-par 77 in the first round. Forero and Harris both took to the 6,014-yard Gold Course looking for a victory in the final round.

Forero was looking for a perfect final round but found a bogey on No. 12. She rebounded quickly with birdies on No. 13 and No. 17 to seal her tournament victory and the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award with 3-under-par 69. Shattering her competition, Forero finished 1-under-par 143 for the tournament.

Harris finished the event in second place for the Girls Division carding 12-over-par 156 for the Event. Bria Jansen of Cochrane, Canada finished in third place with a 14-over-par 158.

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.

To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.ijgt.com/info or call 888.936.5327.

Final round results of the IJGT Arizona Open conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed March 30, 2013. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees – 6922 yards, Par 72 (72.3/130).  Boys 14 & Under Division: Blue Tees – 6259 yards, Par 72 (69.6/124) Girls Division: Gold Tees – 6014 yards, Par 72 (74.4/129).
 
International Junior Golf Tour
The Arizona Open at Wigwam Resort
Litchfield Park, Arizona March 29-30, 2013
Course: Gold Course
Boys 15-19 Division (Black Tees) Yards: 6,922, Par 72
1.  Billy Comeaux, Tucson, AZ *74-69--143
2. Daniel Hudson, Western Springs, IL *73-71--144
2. Christopher Korte, Highlands Ranch, CO *69-75--144
2. Johnathan Hudson, Western Springs, IL *72-72--144
5. Sean Carlon, Albuquerque, NM *72-76--148
5. Brett Pasula, Red Deer, AB *73-75--148
5. Li Chen, Westminster, CO *70-78--148
Boys 14 & Under Division (Blue Tees) Yards: 6,259, Par 72
1. William Sheedy, Washington, DC *80-76--156
2. Remington Hirano, Honolulu, HI *76-81--157
3. Griffin Cooper, Yerington, NV *85-79--164
4. Mikee Ordona, Upland, CA *82-89--171
Girls Division (Red Tees) Yards: 6,014, Par 72
1. Natalia Forero, Cali, Colombia *74-69--143
2. Haylin Harris, Tucson, AZ *77-79--156
3. Bria Jansen, Cochrane, Canada *78-80--158
4. Desiree Anderson, Napa, CA *79-80--159
5. Madelein Herr, New Hope, PA *79-83--162
6. Samantha Barker, Highlands Ranch, CO *80-84--164
7. Catherine Warner, Kennewick, WA *89-97--186