LOUISIANA'S SMITH WINS SOUTHERN JUNIOR AT SEA ISLAND

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. – With a series of pressure par-saving putts in Thursday's final round, Michael Smith of Lafayette, LA, scored a 4-stroke triumph in the Southern Golf Association's 32nd Southern Junior Championship at the difficult and famed Sea Island Seaside Course.

Smith's victory earned him not only what he called "my biggest win," but a playing exemption into the SGA's 98th Southern Amateur in July at The Honors Course near Chattanooga. The recent grad of St. Thomas More High School began the final round with the lead and kept several challengers at bay with a solid 2-under-par 69 that included two birdies and just one bogey – on the final hole after his win had been assured.

Tying for second behind Smith's 2-under-par 208 total were Adam Mitchell of Chattanooga and Zack Suchar of Mobile at 212. Although Mitchell had 5 birdies on the final nine, no one could get closer than 3 strokes of Smith over the final 12 holes. He saved pars at the ninth and 14th holes with crucial putts of 15 and 12 feet.

"I knew where I stood," said Smith, 18. "So I was just trying to keep it in the fairway and make pars coming in. This course is really hard. It's so important to hit fairways."

Playing two groups ahead, Savannah's Mark Silvers made a late run, but fell back with a double-bogey at the closing hole. Within moments, Smith sealed the victory back at the 17th hole by running in a 10-footer for birdie 2. Silvers finished at 213 alongside Ryne Fisher of Clarksville, TN, and Cameron Hooper of Jacksonville.

After seeing his overnight lead evaporate, Harris English, 14, of Moultrie, GA, won the 13-14 age division with a birdie on the second playoff hole to edge Montgomery's Hunter Hamrick.

A total of 208 top juniors from 19 states competed. The 2005 Southern Junior is set for Golden Bear Club @ Keene's Point in Orlando.

Complete results:

13-14 Age Division
Harris English, Moultrie, Ga. 73-70-74--217
Hunter Hamrick, Montgomery, Ala. 72-75-70--217
Kevin Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla. 73-74-73--220
Eric Lodge, Houston, Texas 73-75-72--220
Drew Miller, Clarksville, Tenn. 76-77-75--228
Patrick Reed, Baton Rouge, La. 74-77-77--228
Seth Reeves, Duluth, Ga. 70-76-83--229
Brent Whitehead, Marietta, Ga. 76-76-80--232
William Meason, Alpharetta, Ga. 68-86-80--234

Failed to make cut:

Paul Hobbs, Edmond, Okla. 79-76--155
Andrew Glassell, Clarksville, Tenn. 76-80--156
Graham White, Evans, Ga. 80-78--158
Jared Black, El Dorado, Ark. 84-75--159
Ely Cornwell, Clarkesville, Ga. 76-83--159
Jack Belote, Bartlett, Tenn. 84-76--160
David Roy, Dothan, Ala. 82-78--160
John Gregory Joseph, Valdosta, Ga. 83-78--161
Ben Goodson, Knoxville, Tenn. 78-83--161
Lee Knox, Augusta, Ga. 80-82--162
Billy Nemesi, Cary, N.C. 86-79--165
Evan Smith, Woodlands, Texas 85-82--167
Jake Greer, Birmingham, Ala. 81-88--169
Douglas Sellers, Montgomery, Ala. 83-94--177
Chase Miller, Rocky Face, Ga. 100-91--191

15-18 Age Division
Michael Smith, Lafayette, La. 71-68-69--208
Zack Sucher, Mobile, Ala. 71-71-70--212
Adam Mitchell, Chattanooga, Tenn. 73-69-70--212
Ryne Fisher, Clarksville, Tenn. 74-69-70--213
Cameron Hooper, Jacksonville, Fla. 71-69-73--213
Mark Silvers, Savannah, Ga. 72-71-70--213
Ben Rogers, San Antonio, Texas 72-73-70--215
Ty Sanders, Tulsa, Okla. 71-72-72--215
Jack Freeman, Garland, Texas 76-73-67--216
Preston Brown, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 73-77-66--216
Jason Turner, Little Rock, Ark. 73-72-72--217
Brad Nelson, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 72-74-72--218
Jeff Hall, Franklin, Tenn. 73-70-76--219
Andrew Carroll, Little Rock, Ark. 73-76-70--219
Jonathan Fly, Memphis, Tenn. 76-73-70--219
Kevin Tway, Edmond, Okla. 75-71-73--219
Ryan Blackburn, Augusta, Ga. 73-75-72--220
Ryan LeFevre, Boca Raton, Fla. 77-70-73--220
Jake Nolen, Birmingham, Ala. 76-69-75--220
Scott Kelly, Kingwood, Texas 77-72-74--223
Ben Barr, Hot Springs Nation, Ark. 80-72-71--223
Neal Jones, Charlotte, N.C. 74-74-75--223
Tyson Alexander, Gainesville, Fla. 74-78-71--223
Wes Roach, Knoxville, Tenn. 72-74-77--223
Grant Reis, Jacksonville, Fla. 79-74-71--224
Michael Buttacavoli, Miami Beach, Fla. 74-75-75--224
Drew Ernst, Seneca, S.C. 77-71-76--224
Andrew Villarreal, Decatur, Ala. 77-74-73--224
Robbie Morrice, Roswell, Ga. 73-78-73--224
Seth Brandon, Dalton, Ga. 80-72-73--225
Whit Roper, Athens, Ga. 82-70-73--225
Bradley Johnson, Birmingham, Ala. 79-74-73--226
Michael Hicks, Peachtree City, Ga. 77-73-76--226
Andrew Nottenkamper, Boynton Beach, Fla. 78-75-73--226
Robert Womble, Raleigh, N.C. 76-73-77--226
Jason Cuthbertson, Conway, Ark. 76-77-73--226
Ethan Maretich, Ringgold, Ga. 75-78-73--226
Jarrod Barsamian, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 74-78-74--226
Garrett Schneider, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 71-72-83--226
Ash Alstadt, Little Rock, Ark. 70-79-78--227
Ryan Zabroske, Alpharetta, Ga. 76-77-75--228
Chris Covelli, Buffalo, N.Y. 75-74-79--228
Ryan Ruggiere, Athens, Ga. 77-71-80--228
Jason Walker, Fort Pierce, Fla. 78-74-76--228
Tal Everett, Sea Island, Ga. 75-77-76--228
Ryan Dent, Saint Simons Islan, Ga. 76-75-77--228
Chappell Brown, West Palm Beach, Fla. 78-75-76--229
Ryan Smith, Birmingham, Ala. 78-75-76--229
Hayes Brown, Atlanta, Ga. 73-74-83--230
Bud Reynolds, Knoxville, Tenn. 72-80-79--231
Daniel Harari, Tampa, Fla. 74-78-79--231
Bryan Miller, Rocky Face, Ga. 79-72-80--231
Todd Heinz, Collierville, Tenn. 76-75-80--231
Matthew Hayes, Marietta, Ga. 75-76-80--231
Ryan Blue, Bogart, Ga. 79-74-79--232
Brad Skinner, Ellabell, Ga. 78-75-79--232
Garrett Burgess, Anniston, Ala. 78-75-80--233
Luke Loggins, Flint, Texas 73-79-81--233
David Fowler, Winston Salem, N.C. 75-77-81--233
Will Braude, Jacksonville, Fla. 74-79-81--234
Lewis Fusco, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 75-77-83--235

Failed to make cut:

David Baker, Alpharetta, Ga. 75-79--154
Kyle Henderson, Clermont, Fla. 77-77--154
Thomas Hugghins, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 70-84--154
Cameron Lawrence, Brentwood, Tenn. 79-75--154
Sam Rosati, Oldsmar, Fla. 79-75--154
Matt Monday, Greenwood, Ark. 79-75--154
Wil Keener, Dallas, Texas 81-73--154
David Cline, Atlanta, Ga. 75-80--155
Daniel Austin, Ridgeland, Miss. 76-79--155
Will Strickler, Charlottesville, Va. 74-81--155
Kyle Cobb, Tallahassee, Fla. 77-78--155
Brent Blaum, Miami, Fla. 78-77--155
Brinson Holder, Point Clear, Ala. 78-77--155
Rob Bennett, Augusta, Ga. 78-77--155
Matt Boyd, Sugar Land, Texas 79-76--155
Stephen Smith, Lafayette, La. 81-74--155
Sam Ransom, Atlanta, Ga. 75-81--156
Jason Melser, Punta Gorda, Fla. 75-81--156
Beck Miller, Houston, Texas 76-80--156
Colby Moore, Cornelius, N.C. 74-82--156
Andrew Loupe, Baton Rouge, La. 76-80--156
Andrew Hanzel, Savannah, Ga. 77-79--156
Beau Allen, Atlanta, Ga. 74-82--156
Will Cooper, Macon, Ga. 80-76--156
Michael Saari, Lilburn, Ga. 79-77--156
Michael Williams, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 79-77--156
Brian Dienes, Jacksonville, Fla. 79-77--156
Will Lewallan, Clarksville, Tenn. 79-77--156
Kevin Johnson, Jesup, Ga. 81-75--156
Michael Clarke, Savannah, Ga. 76-81--157
Eifion Hughes, Johnson City, Tenn. 82-75--157
Chris Griffin, Paducah, Ky. 81-76--157
Nathan Bennett, Oxford, Ala. 81-76--157
Matt Lingle, Olive Branch, Miss. 80-77--157
Nick Hopkins, Jacksonville, Fla. 81-76--157
Bennet Klaus, Edmond, Okla. 76-82--158
Kell Shenep, Little Rock, Ark. 78-80--158
Brandon Bunn, Knoxville, Tenn. 78-80--158
Tyler Baird, Knoxville, Tenn. 84-74--158
Philip Breeding, Morristown, Tenn. 82-76--158
John Christensen, Dallas, Texas 82-76--158
Gregg Hostetter, Leola, Pa. 81-77--158
Brennen Arndt, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 81-77--158
Jeremy Cox, Lake City, Tenn. 81-77--158
Wills Smith, Savannah, Ga. 81-77--158
Ryan Peters, Watkinsville, Ga. 75-84--159
Preston Sandknop, Bradenton, Fla. 78-81--159
Bobby Crowell, Auburn, Ala. 80-79--159
Joey Ham, Mount Holly, N.C. 80-79--159
Jack Watters, Tampa, Fla. 79-80--159
Tyler Oldenburg, Jacksonville, Fla. 81-78--159
Garrett Miller, Birmingham, Ala. 80-79--159
Wayne Parker, Enterprise, Ala. 78-82--160
Tommy Hanna, Bozman, Md. 79-81--160
Michael Gordy, Clarkesville, Ga. 83-77--160
Michael Selvaggio, Simpsonville, S.C. 79-81--160
Russell Lovelady, Duluth, Ga. 79-81--160
James Field, Miami, Fla. 81-79--160
Chris Kennedy, Bradenton, Fla. 80-80--160
Bryant Hare, Saint Simons Islan, Ga. 79-82--161
Rick Dunlap, Dallas, Texas 82-79--161
Will Mitchell, Atlanta, Ga. 82-79--161
Todd Schuster, Atlanta, Ga. 78-84--162
Hap Kaufold, Vidalia, Ga. 81-81--162
James Brannen, Clarksville, Tenn. 79-84--163
Justin Palmer, Mableton, Ga. 80-83--163
Wallace Palmer, Augusta, Ga. 80-83--163
Zach Lee, Ponte Vedra Bch, Fla. 79-85--164
Matthews Barnett, Macon, Ga. 85-79--164
Kyle Kochelek, Johnson City, Tenn. 82-82--164
Jimmy Plank, Jacksonville, Fla. 81-83--164
Kyle Stiles, Athens, Ga. 80-84--164
Darrin Cripe, Newberry, S.C. 78-87--165
Broc Raymond, Spring, Texas 80-85--165
Graham Shurley, Dunwoody, Ga. 86-80--166
Jefferson Knox, Augusta, Ga. 82-84--166
Kirk Whitehead, Marietta, Ga. 82-84--166
Vaughn Winmond, Jacksonville, Fla. 80-86--166
Matt Lawson, Raleigh, N.C. 79-88--167
Alexander Vara, Coral Gables, Fla. 86-81--167
Bobby Baird, Knoxville, Tenn. 82-85--167
Austin Rhymer, Black Mountain, N.C. 79-88--167
Lee Dzwonkowski, Mobile, Ala. 84-84--168
Michael Hosch, Lilburn, Ga. 80-88--168
Joe Gibson, Atlanta, Ga. 86-84--170
Jimmy Vellane, Little Rock, Ark. 84-86--170
Hunter Ford, Paducah, Ky. 83-88--171
Chris Tsavoussis, Tampa, Fla. 95-78--173
Ryland Rumph, Macon, Ga. 85-89--174
Chet DeLong, Madison, Ohio, 81-94--175
Terry McGuirk, Atlanta, Ga. 92-86--178
Madison Barnett, Macon, Ga. 87-91--178
John Bensabat, Baton Rouge, La. 97-82--179