Cowart and Cruise win at Highland Oaks
Another beautiful day set the scene for the final round of the 2018 Highland Oaks Junior Classic, today. Intermittent winds posed a challenge to our players, particularly on the hazard-lined par 3s. In the end, Ainsley Cowart held on to her round one lead and won the overall female championship. Our overall male championship was decided via sudden-death playoff, with Jason Cruise taking the title.
In the female 12-14 division, Loralie Cowart maintained her position at the top of the leaderboard and won the title. Cowart made a charge on her older sister, Ainsley Cowart, for the overall championship but came up just short. Loralie Cowart scored 75 today, in addition to her opening 76 for a 151 total. Finishing in second place was Lauren Thompson, after her final-round 76. Thompson added the 76 to her opening 80 for a 156 total. Rounding out the division, in third place, was Liza Lapeyre. Rounds of 84 and 82 put Lapeyre two strokes ahead of fourth place.
Winning the female 15-19 division and the overall female championship was Ainsley Cowart of Winston, GA. Cowart shot 74 and 73 for an impressive 147 total. Cowart’s final round score of 73 included 15 pars – 9 pars on the back nine. Gilchrist shot 72 today to finish at 151 and in second place. The Spanish Fort, AL native made three birdies in her round today and recorded the lowest round of the entire female division. Finishing third in the division, with rounds of 81 and 80, was Reese Drezins of Slidell, LA. Drezins finished two strokes ahead of fourth place and picked up valuable SJGT points.
Thomas Fischer won the male 12-13 division this week, with rounds of 75 and 79. The Birmingham, AL native shot a front-nine 38 to put himself in a strong position with nine holes to play. Finishing second in the division was Alex Roberts of Birmingham, AL. Roberts shot 80 and 77 to finish on 157, having made four birdies in his final round. Cole Komyati of Spanish Ford, AL, finished in third place. Komyati unfortunately fell from second place after round one but can still be proud of a solid weekend’s performance with scores of 77 and 81.
In the male 14-15 division, Parker Bell took first place after his closing round of 72. Bell opened with a 74 to give himself a 146 total over the difficult Highland Oaks layout. Bell made seven birdies and an eagle throughout the tournament and finished four strokes ahead of second place. Tied in second place was Evans Gross and Brantley Baker. Both Gross and Baker shot 150 totals. Winning on a card playoff, to take the second-place trophy, was Gross. Baker can be proud of a strong weekend and his third-place finish against a strong male 14-15 division.
The male 16-19 division, and overall male championship, went to a sudden-death playoff to determine a winner. Both BJ Morrison and Jason Cruise finished on 144 after rounds of 72 and 72. Making a birdie on the first playoff hole, and taking the first-place titles, was Jason Cruise of Bonaire, GA. Cruise made five birdies today, with Morrison matching him with his five birdies. Morrison picked up the second-place award and will now sit in a good place on the Player of the Year Points list. Matt Stuart, of Birmingham, AL, shot a final round of 72 to finish at 145. Stuart finished in third place for the division, one-stroke ahead of fourth place.
Thank you to all RTJ Highland Oaks staff for their cooperation this weekend – we couldn’t run as successful of an event without you. Also, thank you to all players, parents and spectators for your support this weekend and all-season long. Please head to our Facebook and BlueGolf pages for tournament photos.
