Future stars face tougher conditions
Golf Course
DANVILLE -- Things got a little tougher Monday for the participants on the Kiwanis Club / J&J Golf Future Stars Golf Tour.
That, however, wasn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, program organizer Jamie Barker was pleased with lessons the tough challenges the young golfers learned while playing the course at Chamberlyne Country Club.
"This was the first time this year we played down," Barker said. "We had a couple of good scores, but most of them were down. The kids found out what it's like not being able to move the ball a club's length. That really affects the score over the course of a round.
"They learned they don't need to get down just because they have high scores because sometimes most everyone else does, too. That's what happened (Monday)."
Nelson Darnell was the medalist on the day, shooting a 79 to win the boys 14-15 year-old division. That first-place finish put him tied with Ryan Tucker -- who finished third with an 84 -- atop the division point standings.
Darnell trailed Tucker by 15 points heading into Monday's play. However, strong play in the tour's third event helped him reach the top.
"I thought I hit the ball solid," Darnell said. "I thought my putting wasn't up to what it could be. But overall, I was happy with the way I played."
Tucker tied Garrett Wilkins with matching 84s before Wilkins won the playoff hole to take second. Darnell said he sensed the tough competition from that pair while making his way through the course but felt good about his chances.
"As I was going through, I could tell it was close on the last three or four holes," Darnell said. "I told myself if I strike the ball well I'll be right there in it."
That ended up being the case for Darnell, and he was the lone golfer who broke 80 on the day.
"The wind was blowing and that really made a couple of holes harder than they seemed," Darnell said of the conditions. "It wasn't the easiest course I've played, but it wasn't the hardest either."
Ty Connell maintained his lead in the boys' 16-17 age group, shooting an 87 to hold off Alex Hill (91). Connell now has a 30-point lead over Hill in the points standings with his latest win. Still, the performance wasn't one he wants to remember.
"Today wasn't my greatest," Connell said. "I still got up and down and played the best I could. You have good days, and you have bad days. Today was just my bad day."
Amber Carter won the girls' 16-17 year-old division with a 110, moving her ahead of previous points leader Niki Possage, who did not play Monday. Carrie Vining finished second with a 113 and also moved past Possage.
At stake for the 16-17 age groups is a pair of $1,000 scholarships. The top three finishers in each age group will advance to the Tournament of Champions, scheduled for July 25 at Tannenbaum Golf Club in Drasco.
Connell leads the boys group with 300 points, while Hill has 270. Lance Pendergraft is in third with 160 points.
Carter now has 280 points overall, and Vining has 250. Possage is in third with 200 points.
Connell and Possage won the previous two tournaments before Monday's action.
Several of the points races tightened after Monday's play. That can partly be attributed to tougher conditions.
"The roughs were very tough, and the greens were much bigger than what they were used to," Barker said. "It's the hottest day we've had, so there were a lot of elements that made it tougher.
"This was a different style of play. That's the purpose for playing on different golf courses. We want to try to help the kids be able to play in a variety of conditions."
14-15 year olds
Nicole Helton shot a 99 to win the girls' 14-15 age group. Brittany Rogers finished with a 103 for second, while Jenna Spikes shot a 122 for third.
Helton and Rogers are now tied for first in the point standings with 285 each. Spikes is in third place with 240 points.
For the boys, Darnell and Tucker lead the way with 280 points each, while Wilkins is in second with 175. Kurt Kulbeth, who shot a 94 for fourth place Monday, is in third with 165 points.
12-13 year olds
Jeff Spikes maintained his lead in the boys division with a second-place finish of 45. Tim Netherton won Monday with an eight-hole total of 38.
Spikes now has 260 points to lead all participants. Netherton climbed to second with the win and has 200 points. Tyler Pinny shot a 52 Monday and is in third in the point standings with 170.
For the girls, Laken Powers is the only participant but did not play Monday. She currently has 200 points.
10-11 year olds
Alex Smith won a playoff over Ethan Grace -- who both finished with a 51 -- on Monday to take second place and move in front of the pack with 245 points.
Chase Netherton won Monday's tournament, shooting a 42. He advanced to fourth place overall with 175 points. Stone McDaniel, who shot a 64 Monday, is in third with 200 points.
For the girls, Madison Talley is the only participant but did not play Monday. She currently has 200 points.
8-9 year olds
Jay Trusty shot a 20 through five holes to win the boys' age group Monday and move closer in the points standings. He now has 200 points and is in third place.
Seth Grace finished second with a 27 and is still the division leader, now with 280 points. Joshua Beam (37) is in second with 250 points.
McKenzie Douglas pulled a little closer to overall leader Morgan Beck in the girls' age group with a 37 to win Monday's event. Beck shot a 38 and is in first place with 280 points. Douglas now has 200 points.
The next Future Stars Tour event is scheduled for next Tuesday at Morrilton Country Club.
See Wednesday's edition of The Courier for complete results of Monday's action and the current point standings.
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