CHANG AND WALSH WIN RAIN SHORTENED JIMMY ANDERSON JUNIOR
Jennifer Chang of Cary, NC and Thomas Walsh of High Point, NC each won their division in the rain shortened fifth annual Jimmy Anderson Junior Invitational hosted by Jacksonville Country Club in Jacksonville, NC. With heavy rains in the Jacksonville area and the forecast for much of the same for the rest of the day, the second round was cancelled around 8:00 am and the event was reduced to an 18-hole event.
Chang, a thirteen year old seventh grader, captured her title with a round of three over 75 on the George Cobb designed course. Chang, the fourteenth ranked junior girl in NC, has two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on the demanding par four 18th finishing hole. None of the 25 junior girls playing in the tournament made par or better on the 18th hole. Finishing three shots back tied for second with rounds of 78 ere Catherine Ashworth of Fuquay-Varina, NC and Sarah Bertram of Concord, NC. Ashlii Thompson of Brown Summit, NC finished solo fourth with a round of 79.
Walsh, a sixteen year old high school sophomore, shot the only round under par of two under 70. Walsh, who has verbally committed to play college golf at Virginia, played a consistent round of three birdies and one lone bogey to win by two shots. William Register of Burlington, NC finished in second place with an even par round of 72. Tying for third place with rounds of one over par 73 were Doc Redman of Raleigh, NC, Ross Robison of Wilmington, NC and Tanner Gross of Archdale, NC. Jacksonville CC junior club champion Reggie Crew, Jr of Jacksonville finished tied for sixth place with Thomas Lilly of Newton, NC after rounds of 74.
This annual junior tournament was created in 2009 by the junior golf alumni of Jacksonville Country Club in honor of their long time teacher and friend, Jimmy Anderson. In 2011, the Tarheel Youth Golf Association, a division of the Carolinas Golf Association, began conducting the event in conjunction with Jacksonville CC. The 75-player field consisted of junior golfers from North and South Carolina.