By Barbara Palmgren
The ECJGT tour offers junior golfers the opportunity to gain experience at golf events all along the Gulf Coast. There are both two-day and one-day events, and on Sunday, May 17, the one-day event began with golfers teeing off around noon. This was not a shotgun start. All golfers started on the first hole. Sounds like a PGA event we were also watching on Sunday, doesn’t it?
The only disadvantage is time. Long shadows late in the afternoon are often a challenge. With close to 70 golfers in a normal four-person group, this was a long, long day. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful and the scenery at Kelly Plantation was breathtaking. The course was also challenging, with water hazards and bunkers waiting for an errant golf ball.
Athletes ranged in age from 8 to 18 years old, with boys and girls divisions. Sunday was a special qualifier for the top male and female golfers ages 15-18 for boys and 15-18 for girls to be invited to the USwing Mojing Junior World Golf Championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif., in July. Sunday’s winners earning this honor and heading to California are Neely Kight with a score of 70 and Aiden Yang with a score of 71 for 18 holes.
Tournament Director Dennis Attaway has worked with young golfers since 2020. Dennis’ two assistants helped throughout the day, and Kelly Plantation General Manager John Townsend had golf carts ready for spectators to quietly watch future golf professionals.
Congratulations to the first and second place winners at the Kelly Plantation Junior Classic:
| Category | 1st Place | 2nd Place |
|---|---|---|
| Boys 16–18 | Nicolas Zaccagnino | Lars Wiggins |
| Girls 15–18 | Neely Kight | Elizabeth Palmer |
| Boys 14–15 | Aiden Yang | Copeland Gilmer |
| Girls 12–14 | Rayna Perkins | Copelyn Kinsey |
| Boys 12–13 | Neyland Schmidt | Thomas Rish |
| Girls 10–11 | Evie Ile | — |
| Girls 8–9 | Addison Som | — |
| Boys 10–11 | Davis Grant | Luke Stuart |
| Boys 8–9 | Jett Jeter | Dylan Barlow |
