The 24th edition of The Sea Pines Junior Heritage was delayed two hours due to cold temperatures and a frost delay. However, conditions improved and it turned out to be a cloudless day at Harbour Town Golf Links for a strong field of junior golfers!
At the conclusion of the first round, Charlotee, NC native Aaron Walker and Benjamin Shipp of Duluth, GA share the lead at one-under-par, 70 on the boys side of the tournament. For the girls, Annika Bovender of Mt. Pleasant and local IJGA student, Rei Nakatani are knotted up at three-over-par74 heading into the final round.
The golf course was in tremendous shape when it thawed out. Players had to lean on their short game skills to post good scores due to small greens. “I was pretty much getting up and down from everywhere,” mentioned Walker. He made one of the two eagles of the day and did so on the par five 5th by hitting driver, three-wood to 25 feet and sinking the putt. “That’s when my round really go started.”
As for NC State commit Shipp, “I started really well and turned at one-under par. Then I got loose and my swing left me but I scrambled well to keep the round going.”
As weather conditions improved, players found a groove. “My putts were rolling true and my up and downs were pretty easy,” commented Bovender. Many players commented on the condition of the greens, which were apparently in great shape. “I missed a lot of greens because my irons weren’t sharp [but] my putting was working.” When asked about her feelings on being a South Carolinian with the lead headed into day two, Bovender said, “I love South Carolina tournaments!”
Last year’s champion Ana Paula Valdes is only one shot off the lead but was not pleased. “I’m not at all happy with my round and did not finish either nine well.” Valdes closed out the front side with a double bogey at number eight and a bogey on nine. She battled back with a birdie on 10. “I was two-under going into 18 and made a triple,” she snarled. Look for a strong push for a repeat on Sunday.
The event is hosted by The Sea Pines Resort and competed over Harbour Town Golf Links for the first round. The final round will be contested on the Pete Dye designed Heron Point course, Sunday, February 8. Two talented players will walk away with the Lighthouse Trophies befitting of their respective championships. The SC Junior Golf Association would like to recognize The Sea Pines Resort for presenting and hosting this prestigious event along with Nike Golf, Coca-Cola, and the Heritage Classic Foundation for making this must play tournament.
Past players include: Jonathan Byrd (’94, 96’),Brent Dalahoussaye (’98, ’99),Lucas Glover (’96),Bill Hass (’98, ’00),Charles Howell III (’94 Champion,’96 Champion),Ruiji Imada (’94),Anthony Kim (’01),Hunter Mahan (’99, ’00),Kevin Na (’99, ’00),Sean O’Hair (’98 Champion, ’99),Jeff Overton (’01),Webb Simpson (’02, ’04), Brandt Snedeker (’99),Kyle Stanley (’05 Champion, ’06),D.J. Trahan (’98,’99),Bubba Watson (’96),Paula Creamer (’01 Champion, ’02, ’03 Champion),Julieta Granada (’02, ’03, ‘05),Christie Kerr (’92, ’93, ’94),Christina Kim (’01),Jessica Korda (’08,’09, ’10),Kristy McPherson ( ’98, ’99),Morgan Pressel (’02, ’03),Alexis Thompson (’08, ’09 Champion, ’10).
The 2015 Sea Pines Junior Heritage consists of an 84 player field. Six players were derived from local qualifying and the rest of the field was set with 78 committed players. Thirteen states and multiple countries are represented in the 24th edition of the nationally renowned junior championship.