Hank Haney IJGA Students Sweep Divisions at Indigo Run

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC — With Spanish moss covered oak trees and tall pines lining the fairways, Indigo Run's Golden Bear Course on Hilton Head Island was the setting for this week’s International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) event. As the weekend’s weather made a turn for the good, competitors began warming up as well.

A few rounds of under-par golf all came together in a suspense-filled playoff to determine the Boys 16-19 Division champion, while other age divisions also came to play. After the first-round in the Boys 16-19 Division, Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (Hank Haney IJGA) student Pablo Gerboles from Leon, Spain had a commanding 4-shot lead. Robin Brinckmann (Hank Haney IJGA), hailing from Hamburg, Germany, was 7-shots back with a 77. When Sunday arrived, Brinckmann was determined to narrow the lead. During the final-round, he fired a 1-under, 71 for a tournament total of 148 putting him in a tie for first-place with Gerboles, who turned in respectable scores of 70 and 78. A playoff was needed, but only one hole was played as Brinckmann enthralled the gallery filled with other competitors by slamming home a six-foot birdie putt on No. 10 and capturing his first IJGT victory. Rounding out the top finishers in a tie for third was Antonio Ferrer (Hank Haney IJGA) from Porto Cristo, Spain.

In the Boys 13-15 Division, Matthew Moucharafieh (Hank Haney IJGA) of Beirut, Lebanon arrived at Indigo Run with aspirations of winning. After shooting a 75 in the first-round, he entered Sunday’s round with a 5-stroke lead. On Sunday, Moucharafieh was able to fight off the competitors by firing a 78 for a tournament total of 153 earning him first-place honors. Finishing in second-place eight-strokes off the lead was JJ Qualkenbush (Hank Haney IJGA) of La Quinta, CA with scores of 84-77 for a 161. Michael Chanaud (Hank Haney IJGA) of Gambrills, MD had rounds of 81-81 to take third place with a total of 162.

“I went back to my practice routine and it helped me stay focused,” said Moucharafieh. “What stood out this weekend was my driving accuracy. I hit 24 of 28 fairways.” The moment of the weekend for Moucharafieh was when he birdied the first hole his grandparents saw him playing. In preparation for his next tournament, Moucharafieh will be working on his ball-striking and putting.

In the Boys U-12 Division, Derrick Villarreal (Hank Haney IJGA) from Hartland, WI did it again by winning his second IJGT event of the spring season. Villarreal took home top honors with rounds of 78-79 totaling 157.

In the Girls 15-19 Division, Hank Haney IJGA student Alexa Payne of Dandridge, TN was in the clubhouse after Saturday’s round with a 79 and a 3-stroke lead. Making a charge on Sunday was fellow Hank Haney IJGA classmate and Herenberg, Germany native Ann Kathrin Wuensch who fired the low final-round on Sunday, 78. However, it was Payne that managed to stay ahead of the competition by turning in a final-round 83 for a tournament total of 162. Placing second 2-strokes back was Wuensch with scores of 86-78 for a total of 164. Rounding out the top-3 from Newfields, NH was Tracy Marshall (Hank Haney IJGA) with scores of 82-86 totaling 168.

This weekend, the IJGT stay in Hilton Head Island, SC for the Hank Haney IJGA Family Weekend at Port Royal Golf Club. To sign up for this event, visit http://www.ijgt.com/details.php?id=384 or call (800) 792-9143.