SOUTHERN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
2006

Gainesville’s Alexander Wins 34th Southern Junior

RICHMOND, VA -- The SGA's 2006 Southern Junior Championship concluded on schedule at the Country Club of Virginia’s James River course June 16, albeit 18 holes shorter than intended.

It didn’t matter to Tyson Alexander, an 18-year-old from Gainesville, Fla., that the tournament ended after 36 holes instead of 54 because of an opening-day rainout. Back-to-back eagles on the back nine helped Alexander run away with his first national title.

Alexander posted rounds of 67-69 for an 8-under-par total of 136, seven strokes better than fellow Floridian William Sjaichudin (72-71). Marshall Bailey of Fincastle was the low Virginian in the field with 73-71 - 144. Alexander Sitompul (73-71) of Bradenton, Fla., and Elliott Lopez (70-74) of Chapin, S.C., also finished with 144 totals.  The tournament, conducted by the Southern Golf Association and held in Richmond for the first time, featured some sons of famous professional golfers.

In the 15-18 age group, Travis Wadkins, son of Richmond native Lanny Wadkins, now of Dallas, shot 73-75, and Aaron Stewart of Windemere, Fla., son of the late Payne Stewart, rebounded from an opening 79 with a 2-under 70 in the concluding round. Lanny's young son, Tucker, playing in the 13-14 age group, also logged a better second-day score, following a 78 with a 72. His 150 total was good for a second-place tie.

Alexander’s father is just as well known in golf circles. Buddy Alexander is the University of Florida golf coach and a former U.S. Amateur champion. Tyson Alexander will play in college for his father. “I’ve always thought about doing that, but I didn’t commit early,” Alexander said with a smile. “I think he’s just glad I committed.”

With a commanding lead into the second and final round, Alexander left the door open to challengers during the front nine. However, he cemented the victory when he eagled the short par-4 15th hole by chipping in for 2 from about 40 feet and followed with a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th.

With a national-caliber tournament being held in their back yard, a number of Richmond area juniors were in the field. Timmy Osterbind of Manchester High was low local in the 15-18 division with 71-75 - 146. Nicholas Austin of James River led the 13-14 age group after the first day with a 71, but fell back with an 80 in the final round. Smylie Kaufman of Birmingham, Ala., won with 72-71 - 143.

Austin had to take exams early in order to play. He’s competed on the national level previously. “I just want to have fun, learn something and play my best,” he said.

The shot of the tournament belonged to Bryce Chalkley of Chester, Va., who was in the 13-14 age group. Chalkley aced the 170-yard par-3 14th with a 5-iron while playing with Tucker Wadkins. In a story relayed by Chalkley’s father, Rick, Lanny Wadkins was happy to sign the card as a witness.


Complete results:

13-14 Age Division
Smylie Kaufman, Birmingham, Ala. 72-71--143
Matt Ceravolo, Palm Bch Gardens, Fla. 72-78--150
Matt Lewallen, Clarksville, Ga. 76-74--150
Ryan Davis, Salem, Va. 73-77--150
Tucker Wadkins, Dallas, Texas 78-72--150
Nicholas Austin, Midlothian, Va. 71-80--151
Matthew Ball, Richmond, Va. 75-79--154
Andrew Hans, Birmingham, Ala. 79-76--155
Will Pearson, Memphis, Tenn. 79-76--155
Franco Castro, Alpharetta, Ga. 77-79--156
Peyton Vitter, Atlanta, Ga. 79-78--157
Alec Ceravolo, Palm Bch Gardens, Fla. 79-79--158
Michael Swope, Chesterfield, Va. 77-81--158
Bryce Chalkley, Chester, Va. 80-79--159
Patrick Leisure, Charlotesville, Va. 83-78--161
August Jonas, Jacksonville, Fla. 81-81--162
Jay Pinkos, Clifton, Va. 82-81--163
Hayden Anderson, Knoxville, Tenn. 83-83--166
Drew Peeler, Keswick, Va. 87-85--172

 15-18 Age Division
Tyson Alexander, Gainesville, Fla. 67-69--136
William Sjaichudin, Bradenton, Fla. 72-71--143
Alexander Sitompul, Bradenton, Fla. 73-71--144
Elliott Lopez, Chapin, S.C. 70-74--144
Marshall Bailey, Fincastle, Va. 73-71--144
Eric Schultz, Raleigh, N.C. 72-73--145
Patrick Barrett, Pinehurst, N.C. 75-70--145
Robert Robertson, Philadelphia, Pa. 70-75--145
Broc Raymond, The Woodlands, Texas 75-71--146
Collin Mayer, Houston, Texas 73-73--146
Cory Amory, Crozet, Va. 74-72--146
David Hudgins, Hardy, Va. 73-73--146
Timmy Osterbind, Midlothian, Va. 71-75--146
Brad Mason, Dallas, Texas 72-75--147
Clint Keller, Dallas, Texas 73-74--147
Rob Kirkland, Durham, N.C. 74-74--148
Travis Wadkins, Dallas, Texas 73-75--148
Aaron Stewart, Windermere, Fla. 79-70--149
John Moore, Winnetka, Ill. 75-74--149
Joseph Kim, Rockville, Md. 73-76--149
Neal Robinson, Dallas, Texas 76-73--149
Paul Park, Wayne, N.J. 72-77--149
Ryan Thornton, Chattanooga, Tenn. 74-75--149
Alex Frankel, Atlanta, Ga. 76-74--150
Brent Paul, Midland, Ga. 75-75--150
Brixton Albert, Lititz, Pa. 72-78--150
Caleb Marsh, Strawberry Plains, Tenn. 75-75--150
Matthew Neely, Ashland, Va. 72-78--150
Ben Goodson, Knoxville, Tenn. 74-77--151
Eric Shaw, Longwood, Fla. 79-72--151
Joe Gibson, Atlanta, Ga. 75-76--151
Jonathan Fly, Memphis, Tenn. 76-75--151
Marc Sambol, Dallas, Texas 73-78--151
Parker Houston, Greensboro, N.C. 78-73--151
Ross Mizell, The Woodlands, Texas 73-78--151
Wesley Carver, Bartlett, Tenn. 76-75--151
Brad Miller, Timonium, Md. 78-74--152
Chance White, Spartanburg, S.C. 77-75--152
David Ostrowski, Bradenton, Fla. 77-75--152
Phillip Weaver, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 76-76--152
Brent Modak, Atlanta, Ga. 82-71--153
Clay Bounds, Meridian, Miss. 75-78--153
Jack Blanchat, Little Rock, Ark. 78-75--153
Kelly McHugh, Lakeland, Fla. 77-76--153
Michael Wade, Bassett, Va. 75-78--153
Mike Dowd, Richmond, Va. 78-75--153
Paul Hobbs, Edmond, Okla. 78-75--153
Paul Zampini, Germantown, Tenn. 76-77--153
Peter Kellermann, Jacksonville, Fla. 76-77--153
Ryan Schneiter, Lebanon, Pa. 77-76--153
William Meason III, Alpharetta, Ga. 77-76--153
Blair Marshall, Chattanooga, Tenn. 77-77--154
Clinton Shepard, West Monroe, La. 77-77--154
Rand Araskog, Locust Valley, N.Y. 78-76--154
Rob Gorrell, Richmond, Va. 75-79--154
Will Braude, Jacksonville, Fla. 75-79--154
Austin Gray, Midlothian, Va. 78-77--155
Blake Degenhart, Savannah, Ga. 73-82--155
Lee Knox, Augusta, Ga. 81-74--155
Michael West, Huntersville, N.C. 77-78--155
Sam Beach, Glen Allen, Va. 78-77--155
Alex Donaldson, Windermere, Fla. 76-80--156
Chadd Reynolds, Alpharetta, Ga. 77-79--156
Daniel Walker, Earlysville, Va. 79-77--156
Hunter Downs, Marietta, Ga. 83-73--156
McLain Leberte, Huntsville, Ala. 76-80--156
Will Lewallen, Clarkesville, Ga. 78-78--156
Austin Rhymer, Black Mountain, N.C. 78-79--157
Blake Howard, Johnson City, Tenn. 79-78--157
Charlie Grace, Windermere, Fla. 84-73--157
Charlie Holman, Knoxville, Tenn. 79-78--157
Chris Piumelli, Vero Beach, Fla. 81-76--157
Drew Florio, Celebration, Fla. 80-77--157
John Minor, Dandridge, Tenn. 79-78--157
Peter Wilson, Locust Valley, N.Y. 77-80--157
Ward Minton, Raleigh, N.C. 78-79--157
Zach Robinson, Pensacola, Fla. 79-78--157
Zack Bowman, Gloucester, Va. 79-78--157
Alex Castro, Alpharetta, Ga. 75-83--158
Brendan Kelly, Annapolis, Md. 79-79--158
Chad Harkins, Richmond, Va. 80-78--158
Dan Kellermann, Jacksonville, Fla. 76-82--158
John McGoogan, Atlanta, Ga. 81-77--158
Ryan Nero, Virginia Beach, Va. 79-79--158
Tommy Hanna, Bozman, Md. 79-79--158
Zachary Primavera, Lynn Haven, Fla. 80-79--159
Chris Olson, Midlothian, Va. 81-79--160
Matt Bush, Richmond, Va. 80-80--160
Richard Blank III, Little Rock, Ark. 82-78--160
William Bishop, Earlysville, Va. 83-77--160
Zach Frick, Midlothian, Va. 83-77--160
Joseph Suarez, Richmond, Va. 83-78--161
Mac Jennings, Richmond, Va. 79-82--161
Bryan Giles, Williamsburg, Va. 77-85--162
Teddy Mitchell, Richmond, Va. 80-82--162
Brian Langley, Blacksburg, Va. 80-83--163
Danny Griggs, Winter Park, Fla. 81-83--164
Eric Johannsen, Naples, Fla. 81-83--164
Joel Dahlenburg, Saint Augustine, Fla. 84-80--164
Kade McDonald, Ruston, La. 80-84--164
Kent Crymes, Athens, Ga. 86-78--164
Colin Corcoran, Lake Charles, La. 82-83--165
Ely Cornwell, Clarkesville, Ga. 87-78--165
Nick South, Knoxville, Tenn. 81-84--165
Ryan DuLaney, Memphis, Tenn. 85-80--165
Davis Gilmore, Culpeper, Va. 86-80--166
Luke Nash, Bridgewater, Va. 81-85--166
Seth Knight, Columbus, Ga 77-89--166
Alexander Coughlin, White Pine, Tenn. 84-83--167
Christopher Pinkos, Clifton, Va. 81-86--167
Evan Smith, The Woodlands, Texas 85-82--167
Kevin McLister, Leesburg, Va. 81-86--167
Travis Scarbrough, Marietta, Ga. 82-85--167
Matthew Holtz, Indian Creek Vlg, Fla. 84-84--168
Matt Rumble, Jacksonville, Fla. 82-87--169
Patrick Pennington, Annapolis, Md. 84-85--169
Russell Burke, Pinehurst, N.C. 82-87--169
Christopher Joyner, Nashville, N.C. 88-82--170
Gabriel Costa, Tequesta, Fla. 86-84--170
Justin Lavine, Sugar Land, Texas 86-84--170
Michael Boyd, Windermere, Fla. 87-84--171
Cameron Vitter, Atlanta, Ga. 82-90--172
Ben Allen, Chesterfield, Va. 88-85--173
Benjamin Powers, Tampa, Fla. 84-89--173
Jerry Johnston, Choudrant, La. 84-90--174
Chase Miller, Rocky Face, Ga. 92-83--175