Young golfers gathered at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech on Tuesday, June 13, to compete in the June Oblinger Shott Foundation Junior Classic.
The event was part of the Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour and marked the first tournament of the 2023 season for junior players up to age 18. It’s the 25th year for the familiar and celebrated regional golf tour, one that has enjoyed the cooperation of golf courses in southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia throughout the years. Numerous volunteers were on hand to assist the fledging competitors as a beautiful early summer day ensued. Here is a recap of the action.
17-18 Age Group
Clayton Gilmore of Moneta claimed the age-group title in his very first start on the Tour. Gilmore played steadily on the inward nine collecting 5 pars en route to an 18 hole score of 82. Lucas Beeler of Radford and Radford University recruit McKenzie Weddle of Floyd tied for 2nd with scores of 84.
15-16 Age Group
Peyton Mason of Willis defeated Andrew McCoy of Glasgow in a sudden-death playoff to claim the age group title after both players had posted impressive scores of two over par 74. Mason made the turn at one under par and then made 6 pars on the second nine holes to force the playoff. McCoy also was off to a good start, making the turn at even par. He continued the trend through the first 7 holes on the inward nine before a double bogey on the difficult par 3 17th derailed his hope of the victory. The playoff occurred on the par 4 11th hole where Mason made a par to defeat McCoy. Harris Camp of Roanoke was 3rd just one stroke back at 75. Hunter Crist of Radford and Rocky Frye of Bramwell, West Virginia, tied for 4th with scores of 77. Ryan Highfield of Blacksburg shot 78 and Josh Cummings of Christiansburg shot 79 to finish 6th and 7th respectively in the deeply talented age division.
13-14 Age Group
Another playoff was needed to settle this age group as Carter Dudash of Christiansburg defeated Evan Singleton of Pulaski on the first hole of the additional play. Both had posted scores of 88 to tie for the lead. Mike Bateman of Salem and Jack Herbert of Blacksburg tied for 3rd two shots back at 90. Campbell Sayers of Marion was a stroke back at 91 and finished 5th.
10-12 Age Group
J.J. Robertson of Blacksburg shot 43 to win the age group playing 9 holes. Robertson’s score was 4 better than Liam Smith of Elliston who finished 2nd. Seth Alba of Blacksburg finished 3rd with a score of 51.
9 and Under Age Group
Colton Caudill of Wytheville shot 51 over 9 holes and won the age group. Silas Edmonds, also of Wytheville shot 55 and finished 2nd. Michael Brown of Blacksburg shot 59 and finished 3rd.
The Tour continues next week with a tournament at Draper Valley scheduled for Tuesday June 20.
