Two of the three local entrants in this week’s American Junior Golf Association Circle K Junior Championship hosted by Otter Creek made the cut to today’s final round, while the third narrowly missed.
In the boys tournament, Kody Reynolds shot an even-par round of 72 for the second consecutive day and is tied for 10th at even-par 144 after two rounds. In the girls tournament, Nathaly Munnicha carded a 4-over 76 Wednesday and is tied for ninth at 5-over 149.
Jack Hoover shot a 9-over 81 for a two-round total 9-over 153 and missed the boys cut by one shot.
Reynolds, an incoming junior at Columbus East, posted two bogeys and three birdies on his first five holes and was 1-under at the turn. He ran into some trouble, posting a double-bogey on No. 12, but bounced back with a birdie on No. 14 for his even-par round. He also made a couple of up-and-down bunker saves for par.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
"I started out well, but made two sloppy bogeys, and with that double, you just can’t go left on that drive," Reynolds said. "On the two up-and-downs, I had straight plugged lies, and near impossible par saves, so it was nice that I got those to go down. I didn’t hit the ball great, but the putter was really good."
Reynolds is excited to have made the cut.
"It’s really nice," Reynolds said. "Even-par is not horrible. It’s four strokes better than last year."
Munnicha, an incoming junior at Columbus North, didn’t post any high numbers on her scorecard with six bogeys and two birdies coming on Nos. 5 and 6.
"Today, I didn’t strike the ball as well as I liked," Munnicha said. "I just tried to have a positive mind and just tried to keep going. For the front nine, I was 3-over and then only 1-over on the back nine. I’m OK with that. I made a couple birdies, but also made a couple of mistakes, and hopefully, I’ll learn from them."
Wednesday wasn’t Hoover’s day on the course. He didn’t post any double-bogeys or worse in his round, but had several bogeys.
"I hit the ball well off the tee. I was comfortable off the tee, which I was happy with," Hoover said. "I didn’t hit two good irons shots all day, and I putted horrible today. My short game wasn’t any good. I just couldn’t get anything going today. It was like, ‘One step forward and two steps back.’"
Hoover, who moved to Columbus last summer from Colorado and was homeschooled, said he enjoyed playing in the tournament.
"It was awesome," Hoover said. "I’m so happy to get the opportunity. It is such a cool event. As soon as you get here, you know it is not a typical junior golf event, but it is something special. To be able to be a part of this is something that I’ll remember for a long time."
Drew Doyle of Louisville is running away from the boys field at 9-under 135, four strokes ahead of Jimmy Zheng of Auckland, New Zealand. Annabelle Pancake of Zionsville is the leader for the girls tournament at 1-under 143.
Tee times for today’s final round begin at 7 a.m. Munnicha tees off at 7:50 a.m. on No. 1, and Reynolds tees off at 8:40 a.m., also on No. 1.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”AJGA leaderboard” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
BOYS
1. Drew Doyle;Louisville;67-68—135
2. Jimmy Zheng;Auckland,New Zealand;70-69—139
T3. Ryan Eshleman;Vestavia Hills, Alabama;74-66—140
T3. Campbell Kremer;Louisville;70-70—140
T5. Adam Bratton;Newburgh;70-71—141
T5. Kevin O’Regan;Northbrook, Illinois;70-71—141
Local competitors
T10. Kody Reynolds;Columbus;72-72—144
T53. Jack Hoover;Columbus;72-81—153
GIRLS
1. Annabelle Pancake;Zionsville;73-70—143
2. Shannyn Vogler;Sherrard, Illinois;73-71—144
T3. Caroline Smith;Inverness, Illinois;77-68—145
T3. Katie Dzialga;Greenwich, Connecticut;72-73—145
5. Taylor Miano;Dobbs Ferry, New York;76-70—146
Local competitor
T9. Nathaly Munnicha;Columbus;73-76—149
[sc:pullout-text-end]
