The 2010 Etowah County Junior Golf Tournament
concluded today with the Champions’ Shoot – Out held on the Heartbreaker
course at Silver Lakes Golf Club. The shoot – out consists of the top
ten finishers in the 13 – 18 year old division for girls and boys. All
players will tee off from the first hole in stroke play competition with
one player being eliminated each hole until the final hole. At that
time, the two remaining players will have a sudden playoff until a
winner is determined.
This year the top ten players consist of: Jesse
Force of Sardis, Christopher Tinker, Tanner Dixon and Jack Sims of
Glencoe, Cliff Tucker of Southside, Brett Garrard and 2010 Girls County
Champion Ashleigh Whisenant of Etowah, Bo Hayes and 2009 Girls County
Champion Amanda Richey of Gadsden City, and Jesse Lawley of Westbrook
Christian. Tanner Roberts, the Boys County Champion, was unable to
participate due to a prior commitment.
Play began on hole one on the Heartbreaker course.
Jack Sims was knocked off in a playoff with Tanner Dixon. Hole two had
Cliff Tucker eliminated in a playoff with Christopher Tinker. On the
par 4 3rd hole, Tanner Dixon hit his approach shot over the
green and recorded a double bogey to end his day. Amanda Richey found
the bunker on number four and took a double bogey six and was
eliminated.
Jesse Lawley was the next victim when her tee shot
went wide left on the par 3 fifth and she made a five. The par 4 sixth
saw Jesse Force hit his tee shot in the trees. He was eliminated after
he made bogey.
The last three holes had some dramatic moments for
the remaining golfers. Hole seven is a dogleg par 5 that Tinker and
Hayes each made birdies. Brett Garrard and Ashleigh Whisenant each made
par and Whisenant advanced by winning the playoff over Garrard.
Hayes, Tinker and Whisenant all made pars on the
par 3 eighth. Whisenant nearly won the hole but her birdie putt just
missed. Tinker made a clutch par putt and then won a playoff over
Whisenant to set up the dramatic final hole with Bo Hayes.
Hayes and Tinker both split the fairway with their
tee shots on number nine. Hayes’ approach shot sailed over the green
and Tinker hit his approach shot about 15 feet left of the flag. Hayes
made a excellent chip shot to the green and left himself about ten feet
to save par. Tinker nearly hole his birdie try. The par attempt by
Hayes stopped on the lip of the cup and he settled for bogey. Tinker
then calmly knocked in the par putt to secure the Champions’ Shoot-out
Title.
This event concluded the year’s events for the
Gadsden Junior Golf Association.
On Thursday night the awards banquet was held at
the Gadsden Senior Activity Center. The Isaac’s Award was presented to
Staley Dawson. Riley Wilson won the Dr. Robert Graves Sportsmanship
Award and Jesse Lawley won the Chad Harcrow Most Improved Player Award.
