Ashmore secures first-ever IJGT title
The IJGT hosted the SC Callaway Junior World Qualifier at Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run on May 3-4, 2014. The event was the first Callaway Junior World Qualifier of the Southeast Tour for the 2013-2014 season. Winners of the event received an exemption into the prestigious Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. In addition, juniors competed for IJGT Merit Points, national rankings and an invite to the IJGT’s Bridgestone Golf Tournament of Champions to be played at Grand Cypress Resort on May 24-26, 2014.
In the Girls Division, Maggie Ashmore of Kingston, Ga., secured her first ever IJGT win as she carded scores of 74-74 – 148. Coming off a second-place finish at the Palmetto Open at Columbia Country Club, Ashmore carded a career best six birdies in two rounds to help her to her victory.
Ashmore finished two strokes ahead of second-place finisher, Jasmine Chee of Hong Kong, China, who boasted scores of 78-72 – 150. Chee’s even-par score of 72 in round two earned the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award. In third, Samantha Huang of Shenzhen, China, and Sera Tadokoro of Osaka, Japan, tied with overall scores of 152.
When asked how her first victory feels, Ashmore commented, “It feels great, it will just give me a lot of confidence in my next event especially with the summer coming up.”
At the end of regulation in the Boys 15 & Up Division, Taisuke Ono of Tokyo, Japan, was tied for the lead with a score of 145 overall. The tie forced a playoff held on the par-4 hole No. one. Ono teed off first, hooking left to land in the rough followed by a second shot which landed him slightly short from the green. Ono’s chip shot landed within three feet from the hole where his putt for par came up shy.
Ono’s round-two one-under-par score of 71 was highlighted by five birdies. The low score awarded Ono the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, the award offered to the player who shoots the lowest score during the final round. Ono finished with scores of 74-71 – 145.
Yong Sherng Hui of Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, rounded out the top three carding scores of 74-72 – 146.
When asked what worked well for him, Suyasri commented, “My short game worked best for me today.”
Chase Ingram of Bluffton, S.C., was the winner of the Boys 14 & Under Division with scores of 77-73 – 150 overall. Trailing by two strokes after round one, Ingram tallied three birdies in round two to move into first. The victory is the first for Ingram in his time with the IJGT.
“It feels good, I’ve been coming in a lot of second places so it finally feels good to pull it all together,” said Ingram on his win.
The IJGT will head south next weekend for the Orlando Junior at Flacon’s Fire in Orlando, Fla. To sign up for this Event, or others, visit IJGT.com or call (843) 785-2444.