Final Results - IJGT Baltimore Junior at Worthington Manor

Byrne Captures Baltimore Junior

Testa Wins First IJGT Event

URBANA, Md. - The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) headed to Urbana, Md., on Sept. 21-22 for the Baltimore Junior at Worthington Manor. The two-day, 36-hole event was hosted by Worthington Manor Golf Club, a course listed as one of the "Best Courses You Can Play in Maryland," by Golfweek.

Situated in the rolling hills of Maryland, Worthington Manor is an Ault-Clark Signature Design. A par-72, the course totaled 6,836 yards for the Boys 15-19 Division, 6,247 for the Boys 14 & Under Division, and 5,767 for the Girls Division. Narrow, twisting fairways, three ponds, and a multitude of bunkers and hazards showed why the course had frequently been selected as a U.S. Open qualifying site. Add in wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour and consistent rain on the first day, and it made for a difficult weekend for many at Worthington Manor.

In the Boys 15-19 Division, Will Byrne of McLean, Va., was able to earn the victory, narrowly beating out Luke Schaap of Potomac, Md.

Byrne got off to hot start in round one and never let up. He carded birdies on Nos. 9, 11, 13, and 18 on his way to a first-round 73, putting him in a tie for the lead with Bryan Morris of Beltsville, Md., going into the final round. Byrne and Morris would be joined by Mike Blasey of Potomac, Md., who fired a first-round 76, in the last group on the final day.

Picking up where he left off after the first day, Byrne began his round with three pars in four holes. But Byrne's biggest challenger was playing in the group ahead. After tallying a 76 on Saturday, Schaap matched Byrne's front-nine 37 and sat only three back with nine holes to play. Schaap made things interesting with birdies on holes 17 and 18 to finish at even-par 72 for the day and awaited Byrne's finish.

It would not be enough, as Byrne also put up three birdies against two bogeys on the back to shoot even-par 72 for the day and total 145 for the two-day tournament, three clear of Schaap at 148. At even-par 72, Byrne and Schaap tied for the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award. Blasey rounded out the top three at 153 for 36-holes, recording a 77 in the final round to go with his first-round 76.

"I was striking my driver well all week, hit my irons pretty well and made a lot of birdies," Byrne noted as a key to his victory.

As close as the Boys 15-19 Division was, the Boys 14 & Under Division was even closer. Joe Parrini of York, Pa., came away with his third-consecutive IJGT victory. He was able to top William Sheedy of Washington D.C., by one stroke.

Parrini shot an 80 in the first round and held a five-stroke lead over Sheedy as they entered the last day. Brett Levenstein of Olney, Md., also was in the mix, sitting six shots back, joining Parrini and Sheedy in the last group.

Parrini started the second round with three pars and opened up an even larger lead. But he found trouble on holes Nos. 7, 8 and 9 while Sheedy closed the gap. After 27 holes, the lead was down to four strokes.
Following a bogey on the 12th hole, Sheedy went on a tear, carding five consecutive pars and a birdie on hole No.18 to finish at 78 for the day and get right back in it.

Parrini was not ready to see his winning streak come to an end, though. With Sheedy bearing down, Parrini kept focus and was able to do just enough to win. Parrini finished the day with an 82, good for a two-round total of 162, one clear of Sheedy's 163. Levenstein rounded out the top three with a final score of 86-84-170.

Even with the victory, Parrini noted the course was not the easiest. "The slopes in the greens were tough. If you hadn't played the course before, it can be tricky. Lots of blind shots," he said.

In the Girls Division, Brittany Testa of Potomac, Md., was able to come out victorious in her first IJGT Event. Playing in the wind and rain, Testa struggled to get a rhythm early on during her first round. She was able to make up six strokes on her back nine.

On Sunday was more of the same story for Testa, as the difficult opening hole got the best of her. Following a rough second hole, she found her game, highlighted by a par on the seventh. For the second straight day Testa improved her score on the back-nine.

"My driving was key all week," Testa noted. "With a lot of wind, I focused on keeping the ball low."

The IJGT Northeast tour will be back at it the weekend of Sept. 28-29 in Pittsford, N.Y., for The Upstate Challenge at Locust Hill. The tournament will be played at Locust Hill Country Club which hosted the 2013 Wegman's LPGA Championship. To sign up for this Event, or others, visit www.IJGT.com/info or call 888.936.5327.

About the IJGT

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 such as TPC Sawgrass, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Kiawah Island Resort, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Sundog Eyewear, Golfweek morodZ, PURE Grips, and the International Junior Golf Academy.

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

Urbana, Md. - Final-round results of the IJGT Baltimore Junior at Worthington Manor conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed September 22, 2013. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees - 6,636 yards, Par 72 (73.5/142) Boys 14 & Under Division: Blue Tees - 6,247 yards, Par 72 (70.5/131) Girls Division: Whtie Tees - 5,767 yards, Par 72 (73.2/134)

Weather: Saturday: Rainy with temperatures in the low 70's with 15-20 mph winds
Sunday: Cloudy with temperatures in the low 70's with 15-20 mph winds

International Junior Golf Tour
Baltimore Junior at Worthington Manor
Urbana, Md.
September 21-22, 2013

Boys 15-19 Division - Black Tees, 6,836 yards, Par 72
1. Will Byrne, McLean, VA, *73-72--145
2. Luke Schaap, Potomac, MD, *76-72--148
3. Mike Blasey, Potomac, VA, *76-77--153
4. Jason Guintu, Potomac Falls, VA, *81-74--155
5. Bryan Morris, Beltsville, MD, *73-83--156
6. Anthony DeNapoli, Catonsville, MD, *81-77--158
7. Evan Katz, Washington, DC, *79-81--160
8. Garrett Bastardi, Boalsburg, PA, *80-81--161
8. Ben Lieberman, Potomac, MD, *77-84--161
10. Will Haller, Gaithersburg, MD, *82-80--162
11. Michael Jones, Potomac, MD, *82-81--163
11. Jake Haughom, Vienna, VA, *81-82--163
13. Jack Peden, Vienna, VA, *88-76--164
13. Demitri Keopradit, Springfield, VA, *81-83--164
15. Justin Ayanian, McLean, VA, *87-78--165
16. Nicholas Infanti, Clarksburg, MD, *86-80--166
16. Andrew Neal, Chevy Chase, MD, *87-79--166
16. Noah Elion, Bethesda, MD, *79-87--166
19. Lennard Long, Washington, D.C., *92-82--174
20. E.J. Dillon, Boyds, MD, *91-89--180
21. Sam Hecht, Oakton, VA, *96-89--185

DID NOT FINISH

Patrick McDonald, Herndon, VA, *85-JWD

Boys 14 & Under Division - Blue Tees, 6,247 yards, Par 72
1. Joe Parrini, York, PA, *80-82--162
2. William Sheedy, Washington, DC, *85-78--163
3. Brett Levenstein, Olney, MD, *86-84--170
4. Jack Halleron, Timonium, MD, *92-84--176
5. Ford Bennett, Owings Mills, MD, *98-84--182
6. Joey Weiland, Middletown, MD, *98-96--194

Girls Division - White Tees, 5,767 yards, Par 72
1. Brittany Testa, Potomac, MD, *98-97--195