FLORENCE, SC – Round two results from the 70th Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational hosted by Florence Country Club on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
Round Two Information
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Final Round Information
Starting the day one shot behind the first-round leader, Greenville’s Walker Jennings carded a two-under par 69 to climb into the lead heading into the final day. Jennings started the round strong, dropping three birdies on the front nine and staying consistent on the back nine to finish with a two-day total of six-under par 136.
“I started a lot better than I did yesterday,” said Jennings. “I went one under through the first three and I was three over through three yesterday. My plan is to stay patient, have fun and just enjoy playing because it’s a special opportunity to play at this course and in this tournament.”
Round one leader, Jerry Bruns (Beaufort) stands alone in second after finishing the day even-par 71. Overall, he sits at five-under par 137.
“The back nine got kind of sloppy and I left a lot of strokes out there,” said Bruns. “I am going to just see where I am at tomorrow and if I have to go for it, I’ll go for it, but as of right now I will probably play pretty conservative.”
Rowan Sullivan of Charleston posted three-under 68 for the day to secure third on the leaderboard. He currently stands at four-under 138 overall for the tournament.
Another point to note is local Florence Country Club member Jay Smith and Columbia’s Coleman Ferguson both fired their first rounds in the sixties in an SCJGA event.
Hugh Faulkner (Greenville) remains atop the leaderboard in the boys 13 and 14 division carding two-under par 69 for round two. Tyler Taber of Mount Pleasant holds the second-place spot with an overall one-under 141 in this division.
In the boys 10 and under division, Connor Wolfe (Blythewood) remains at the top of the leaderboard posting a one-under 34 for round two. Greenville native Thomas DeMint sits five strokes back at four-over par (74).
John Wylie Richardson (Florence) remains in the first-place spot posting a two-over 72 for round two in the boys 11 and 12 division. He leads Owen Atkinson (Columbia) by a single stroke, which should set the stage for an exciting final round tomorrow.
In the boys 13 and 14 division, 9 players made the cut for the final round of the 70th Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational. The cut was based on the low 9 spots and ties after 36 holes.
In the boys 15-18 division, 35 players made the cut for the final round of the 70th Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational. The cut was based on the low 35 spots and ties after 36 holes.
The Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational is in its 70th year of existence and is the longest running junior golf tournament in South Carolina. Formerly known as the Florence Junior Invitational, the tournament was renamed after the famed Grant Bennett in 2013. Bennett started the Florence Junior in 1952 after his inaugural year as both Head Professional and Course Superintendent in 1951. Bennett coached his high school golf teams to 11 straight state titles, had one of his pupils win the US Junior Championship (Buddy Baker), helped to host the 1963 US Junior Championship at Florence Country Club, was co-founder of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, and a member of multiple Halls of Fame.
About the South Carolina Junior Golf Association
The purpose of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association is to continue the history and traditions of the ancient game of golf through its members and an active outreach to the youth of our state. Established in 1990 by community leaders with a love for the game and a commitment to passing on golf’s heritage to the youth of South Carolina, the SCJGA is committed to meeting the needs of all young people in the state and providing playing opportunities to boys and girls that might not otherwise have the chance to experience golf and its many benefits.Through affordable opportunities of play, instruction and competition, juniors of all ages, walks of life and skill levels will be touched by the character of the game. It helps to teach them honor, sportsmanship and respect and makes them better prepared to face the challenges ahead in life.