Hilton Head Island, S.C. – One couldn’t have scripted a better day for players during the final round of the Sea Pines Junior Heritage competed on the famous South Carolina PGA TOUR stop, Harbour Town Golf Links. Welcomed with a morning chill, the sun helped the temperature rise, creating a golfer’s dream playing conditions. Both divisions would crown champions that came from behind to capture the title. However, it was an interesting twist on how each would take the championship.
With an even par back nine finish, Natasha Kiel (New Hope, PA) would head to the clubhouse and wait patiently in hopes of staying inside the top three. Little did she know she would soon be hoisting the winner’s trophy after an unfortunate turn of events for first round leader Savannah Hylton (Hilton Head Island). Hylton would make the walk to the 18th tee after a bogey on the 17th hole, focusing on a good tee shot and approach shot to the small green. After a good drive down the right side of the fairway, Hylton would hit her approach long and right of the green. From there, five shots later she carded a triple bogey. Kiel was following the updates through live scoring and expressed her shock of how the day unfolded. “My focus was to stay patient today and give myself an opportunity. This win gives me a lot of confidence, being my first major win. Knowing I can win, and especially post a good score to come from behind to win, is even more thrilling.” Kiel would post a 4-over par 75 in her final round to edge playing competitors Sophia Burnett (Bluffton, SC) and Hyojoon Jang (Bluffton, SC) by one shot.
A similar scenario would take place in the boys division, but for the second year in a row – a playoff would decide the champion. Jackson Van Paris (Pinehurst, NC) started the day two shots back. However, after the front nine he would find himself tied for the lead. First round leader, Luke Sample (New York, NY) and Van Paris would go back and forth throughout the back nine, but it would be Van Paris who would take the lead going into the 18th hole. Hitting his approach shot to 10 feet, Van Paris 3-putted to fall back into a tie with Sample who still had the 18th to play. Sample would get up and down for par to force the playoff. Van Paris would only need one hole and one putt to secure the win over Sample, capturing his first win of the year. Van Paris expressed how great this win was for him and his confidence saying, “It’s a treat to play Harbour Town during this event and even better to shoot under-par. The course was in great condition and knowing I can come from behind to get the win gives me a good boost heading into the 2020 season.”
Rounding out the top three include Jerry Bruns (Beaufort, SC) who had an hole-in-one on hole seven in the final round, Max Green (Hilton Head Island, SC), Caleb Surratt (Indian Trail, NC) and Lance Simpson (Knoxville, TN).
The event is conducted by the South Carolina Junior Golf Association and The Sea Pines Resort. Vital partners of this championship include: Heritage Classic Foundation, Titleist, FootJoy and Coca-Cola. For detailed results and highlights, follow all social media channels provided by the South Carolina Junior Golf Association and the direct Sea Pines Junior Heritage twitter page, @jrheritage.
