Record breakers at Cherry Blossom

GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Drew Salyers fired an all-time GJT low round with a closing 10-under-par 62 in winning the Boys 16-19 division at Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club.

Salyers overcame a 5-shot deficit with his scorching final round to win by five strokes over Papon Sawatyanon. The victory was Salyers’ second of the season and seventh overall on the GJT.

Following an opening-round 71, Salyers started his final round on the back nine and birdied three of his first six holes before a bogey at the 16th. At that point, Salyers trailed Sawatyanon by one shot then surged ahead with birdies at 17 and 18.

Salyers led by one shot with six holes remaining then reeled off four straight birdies and closed with an eagle on the final hole.

Salyers won with rounds of 71-62—133 while Sawatyanon claimed sole possession of second place with rounds of 66-72—138.

Peyton Houston shot 74-66—140 for third place while Jack Crawshaw finished fourth at 72-69—141. Holden Scribner rounded out the top five with rounds of 73-69—142.

Frye sets 36-hole scoring mark

Laney Frye posted rounds of 67-67—134 to set the GJT girls 36-hole scoring record of 10-under-par. Her record weekend vaulted her to an 8-shot victory over Olivia Hensley in the Girls 15-19 division at Cherry Blossom.

Frye’s opening round consisted of eight birdies and propelled her to a 4-shot advantage over Hensley, Kirsty Mitchell and Katelyn Kuc. In the final round Frye left little room for the field in posting eight birdies without a bogey through the first 14 holes.

Hensley finished alone in second place with rounds of 71-71—142 while Mitchell took third at 71-73—144.

Rounding out the top five were Kuc (71-74—145) at Molly Bebelaar (75-70—145).

Reed romps in Boys 14-15

Bryce Reed shot 72-71—143 in cruising to a 6-shot victory in the Boys 14-15 division at Cherry Blossom.

Reed shared the opening-round lead with Christian McIntosh then made his move on his fifth hole Sunday, an eagle at the par-5 14th. He followed that up with a birdie on the next hole and never looked back, playing the final seven holes in bogey-free 2-under-par.

Topher Reed shot 76-73—149 to take second place while McIntosh (72-78—150) finished in a tie for third place with Troy Tsai (76-74—150).

Clay Pendergrass rounded out the top five with scores of 79-72—151.

Beeson claims easy win in Girls 14-and-Under

Macy Beeson routed the field in the Girls 14-and-under division at Cherry Blossom, firing rounds of 76-70—146 to win by 13 shots.

The victory was Beeson’s second of the season and included a final round with seven birdies on the card.

Mary Keene Marrs took second place at 85-74—159 while Morgan Shown finished third with rounds of 83-79—162.

Craft earns narrow win in Boys 13-and-Under

Joel Craft’s birdie on the 17th hole of Sunday’s final round provided the difference in beating Brady Smith by one shot in the Boys 13-and-under division at Cherry Blossom.

Entering the final round, Craft trailed Landen Howard by one shot and led Smith by one. Craft then made par on each of the first eight holes to overtake Howard.

Craft held a 2-shot lead over Smith heading into the par-3 16th where Smith’s birdie led to a 2-shot swing in his favor and tied for the tournament lead. Craft would finish birdie-par to close out the event and capture his first GJT victory.

Craft finished at 74-72—146 while Smith shot 75-72—147 for second place. Howard shot 73-75--148 for sole possession of third place.