The New England Golf Junior Championships were held Aug. 1617 at Val Halla with predictable results.

Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Massachusetts won the girls and boys team titles. That is easy to figure because Massachusetts has the largest population among the six New England states. Maine’s teams each finished fourth.

In the boys division, Ben Jones of Massachusetts shot 67-66-66—199, which was 11-under par. Maine’s Eli Spaulding of Freeport and Brunswick Golf Club fired 67-72-71–212, which earned him a tie for fourth place in a field of 40 players.

In the girls competition, there was a tie for first between Massachusetts players Annie Dai and McKenzie Whitney.

Ruby Haylock of Turner Highlands finished third, seven shots behind the leaders after posting 78-81-77–236. Morgan Dutil of Turner Highlands (85-91-80–256) was tied for 12th and Jade Haylock (83-87-88–258) was 14th in a field of 18 players.

The threesome from Turner Highlands were the only girls on the Maine team, so hats off to the girls golf program at Turner Highlands.

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At the second annual “Maine Event,” weather prevailed in the professional division. Thunder and lightning set in at Augusta Country Club, meaning the pro field could not finish its second round and that only first-round scores counted.

Shawn Warren, who is an assistant pro at Falmouth, and Jack Wyman of South Freeport had both shot 68, so they shared the pro championship. They split the $3,700 first-place money, meaning they took home $1,850 apiece.

Warren probably is the Maine pro who has won the most money over the past 10 years.  Wyman, considered to be a late bloomer as a tournament pro, also has done well in recent years.

In the senior division, it came as no surprise that Mark Plummer (70-72–142) emerged as champion. Plummer, who is Maine’s all-time amateur titlist, won $500 in pro shop credit. Tied for second was Thomas Bean of Norway (75-79–154).

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The Maine State Golf Association upcoming schedule has men’s play days at Springbrook Aug. 27-28 and women’s play days Aug. 24 at Bridgton Highlands and Northport.

Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his ninth season as Sun Journal golf columnist. 


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