2013 Junior Championship

 

Byrd Wins Georgia Junior Championship

GSGA Player of the Year standings

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ROCKY FACE, Ga. – Marcus Byrd of Dunwoody made his par putt on the final hole at The Farm to clinch the 48th annual Georgia Junior Championship with a 1-under-par 215 score. Although Byrd posted a 2-over-par 74 in Wednesday's final round, he is the only player to finish the 54-hole competition under par overall.

Three players tied for runner-up honors at even-par 216, including Jack Larkin, Jr., of Atlanta (72-75-69), Tye Waller of Griffin (71-75-70) and Ryan Stachler of Alpharetta (68-75-73). If Byrd had missed his putt for par on the final hole, a four-man playoff would have resulted. Instead, the Dunwoody High School student put the ball in the hole and walked off the green as the champion.

Tyler Hanson of Albany, a co-leader from round one, finished fifth at 3-over-par 219 (68-76-75). Will Duma of Atlanta (70-76-75) and second round co-leader Carter Mobley of Waynesboro (71-70-80) tied for sixth at 5-over-par 221. Nickolaus Budd of Woodstock finished eighth at 8-over-par 224 (71-76-77). Six players tied for ninth to round out the top 10 at 10-over-par 226, including: Spencer Ralston of Gainesville (77-74-75), Tyler Joiner of Albany (75-76-75), Eric Grahek of Alpharetta (75-75-76), Wyatt Larkin of Morganton (75-75-76), Michael Sheahan of Marietta (72-78-76) and Jake Fendt of Suwanee (69-81-76).

Three of the players who finished in the top 10 recently led their high school teams to state championships in their respective classes: Ralston (Gainesville High), Duma (Marist) and Larkin (Marist).

The top-8 finishers of the Georgia Junior Championship automatically qualify for the Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match later this summer. Byrd, Larkin, Waller, Stachler, Hanson, Duma, Mobley and Budd made the Georgia team and will represent their state at Forest Lake Club in Columbia, S.C., July 26-27. Joiner and Grahek are the first and second alternates, respectively.

With the win, Byrd also receives an exemption into the Georgia Amateur Championship, which is set for Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, July 11-14.

The field of 144 was cut to the low 70 and ties for Wednesday's final round, with the cutline falling at 19-over-par 163 and 72 players advanced.

Entries were open to male amateur golfers between the ages of 14-17. A competitor must have been at least 14 years old as of June 17 and not have been 18 as of June 19. The event was 54 holes of stroke play.