Rye Boy Wins International Junior Golf Tour Title

The following was provided by the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT):

The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) returned to Bulle Rock Golf Club April 13-14 for the #RocktheSocks Open. This magnificent Pete Dye designed course made this 36-hole two-day tournament a challenge for the 70 competitors. Elite junior golfers representing eight states, two countries, and Washington D.C., competed for national recognition and IJGT Merit Points.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, James McHugh of Rye, N.Y., emerged victorious after a weekend of fantastic play. McHugh trailed first-round leader Evan Johnson of York, Pa., by three strokes heading into Sunday, after he carded a 7-over-par 79.

McHugh started his final round off with a bang with two birdies and five pars on the front nine. His momentum continued all the way to No. 18 with two more birdies on the back nine. McHugh's fantastic second-round 1-over-par 73 earned him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award and most importantly, the IJGT #RocktheSocks title.

“I definitely played a lot better in my final round,” said McHugh. “I kept my ball on the fairway and made a lot of good putts.”

McHugh finished the tournament carding a weekend 8-over-par 152.

Right behind McHugh was Gus Minkin of York, Pa., finishing the weekend with a 14-over-par 158. Rounding out the top 3 in the Boys 14 & Under Division was Nate Menon of Wyomissing, Pa., and Johnson who both carded a weekend 16-over-par 160.

Sophie Kitchen of Collingwood, Canada, led the Girls Division going into the final round after she carded a 9-over-par 81 on Saturday, which earned her KENTWOOL Lo-Pro honors. Kitchen's first round consisted of seven pars and one very impressive eagle on the challenging par-5 No. 8. Raphaella Kang of Bayside, N.Y., was close behind trailing Kitchen by just two strokes heading into Sunday.

Kitchen found herself trailing Kang after a rocky front nine, but she started to find her groove with seven pars on the back nine. Kitchen's solid back-nine play was just what she needed to earn her first IJGT title of the season after carding a weekend 19-over-par 163. She was awarded the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award for carding a 10-over-par 82 on Sunday.

“I am very happy about coming out on top,” said Kitchen. “I think this win is going to help me feel more confident heading into the rest of the season.”

Finishing second was Kang scoring a 22-over-par 166 after two rounds. Taking third place in the Girls Division was Liza Freed of Alexandria, Va., carding a weekend 170.

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, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Sundog Eyewear morodZ, PURE Grips, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

International Junior Golf Tour 
#RocktheSocks Open at Bulle Rock 
Havre de Grace, Md. 
April 13-14, 2013 

Boys 15-19 Division – (Gold Tees): 6,813 Yards, Par 72 
1. Zachary Melnick, Blue Bell, PA *77-76--153 
2. Kevin Devine, Baltimore, MD *79-75--154 
2. Walter Egloff, Chevy Chase, MD *79-75--154 
2. Steve Cerbara, Langhorne, PA *74-80--154 
5. Matthew Cleary, Greenville, DE *77-78--155 
6. Ezekiel Zhao, Annapolis, MD *80-78--158 
6. Josh Rinehart, York, PA, *79-79--158 
6. Anthony Sebastianelli, Clarks Summit, PA *77-81--158 
9. Johnson Ko, Manhasset, NY *78-81--159 
10. Matthew Pulgini, Middletown, DE *77-84--161 
11. Joe Tigani, Hockessin, DE *84-79--163 
11. Trey Croney, Haverford, PA *83-80--163 
11. Ethan Heller, Media, PA *79-84--163 
11. Bryce Johnson, Oakton, VA *80-83--163 
11. Robbie Hickok, Washington, DC *77-86--163 
16. Brendan Bacskai, Berwyn, PA *79-85--164 
17. Ryan Rucinski, Wilmington, DE *83-82--165 
17. Andrew Barth, Bethesda, MD *82-83--165 
17. Ben Litt, Moorestown, NJ *82-83--165 
17. Liam Murphy, Hockessin, DE *82-83--165 
21. Michael Lamond, West Chester, PA *82-84--166 
21. Eric Hall, Harwood, MD *81-85--166 
23. Jack Klein, Bethesda, MD *84-83--167 
24. Phillip Colevas, Rockville, MD *86-84--170 
24. Ethan Means, Landenberg, PA *80-90--170 
24. Hunter Lee, Great Neck, NY *79-91--170 
27. Edward Owen, Baltimore, MD *83-88--171 
28. John Foley, Limerick, PA *83-89--172 
29. Jack Maresca, Rye, NY *81-92--173 
30. Joseph Dorsch, West Friendship, MD *86-88--174 
30. Ryan Cleary, Greenville, DE *81-93--174 
32. Bobby Firth, Jenkintown, PA *86-89--175 
32. Michael Bushman, North Potomac, MD *94-81--175 
34. Bruce Kozel, Annapolis, MD *83-93--176 
35. Brandan Bree, Kennett Square, PA *89-89--178 
35. Joshua Jacobs, Kensington, MD *91-87--178 
37. Michael Szipszky, Newtown Square, PA *88-91--179 
38. Drew Petri, New Hope, PA *93-87--180 
39. Griffin Colvin, Media, PA *94-87--181 
39. Brad Holzer, Rye, NY *93-88--181 
41. Kyle Kost, New Hope, PA *89-93--182 
42. Victor Adamson, Silver Spring, MD *89-94--183 
43. Jacob Simmons, Cambridge, MD *94-90--184 
44. Ryan Brennan, Media, PA *101-99--200

DID NOT FINISH

David A. Sinisi, Harrisburg, PA *100-JWD

Boys 14 & Under Division - (Blue Tees): 6,241 Yards, Par 72 
1. James McHugh, Rye, NY *79-73--152 
2. Gus Minkin, York, PA *81-77--158 
3. Nate Menon, Wyomissing, PA *80-80--160 
3. Evan Johnson, York, PA *76-84--160 
5. Ben Reichert, East Amherst, NY *79-82--161 
6. William Sheedy, Washington, DC *90-75--165 
7. Cole Gibson, Chevy Chase, MD *84-83--167 
7. Taso Scilaris, Bethesda, MD *81-86--167 
9. Will Rand, Irvington, NY *83-90--173 
10. Brett Levenstein, Olney, MD *90-86--176 
11. Joseph Parrini, York, PA *85-94--179 
12. Ford Bennett, Owings Mills, MD *97-97--194

DID NOT FINISH

Daniel Bastian, Media, PA *DQ (Rule 6-3a)

Girls Division – (White Tees): 5,931 Yards, Par 72 
1. Sophie Kitchen, Collingwood, Canada *81-82--163 
2. Raphaella Kang, Bayside, NY *83-83--166 
3. Liza Freed, Alexandria, VA *81-89--170 
4. Alessandra Ricigliano, Scarsdale, NY *83-90--173 
5. Haley Bookholdt, Columbus, NJ *86-90--176 
5. Linda Wang, Fresh Meadows, NY *86-90--176 
7. Sam Leite, Camden, DE *87-91--178 
7. Mary Bryan Owen, Baltimore, MD *85-93--178 
9. Carley Hopton, Madison, NJ *88-92--180 
10. Amanda Meyers, North Potomac, MD *95-86--181 
11. Alison Snakard, Collegeville, PA *92-92--184 
12. Kate Evanko, West Chester, PA *92-96--188