By John Jarvi
Local Sports Journal
Two playoffs to decide titles highlighted the final day of the 36-hole Second Junior Patriot Cup Classic at Grand Haven Golf Club.
Jason Paek, of Glenview, IL, and Ryan Starkman, of Mount Prospect, IL, both won titles in extra-hole playoffs.
Paek rallied for the boys 12-18 title by carding a 75 in the final round to force the playoff. He had a 154 total with rounds of 79 and 75 on the par-72 Grand Haven Golf Club course. Paek opened his final round four-over par through seven holes and then had three birdies in the remaining 12 holes to get to the 154 total.
Paek turned back Brian Dolehide, of Hinsdale, IL, on the second extra hole after Dolehide carded rounds of 73 and 81 for 154 also. Paek and Dolehide played in different threesomes during the final round.
First-round leader Devon Liberty, of Edwards, IL, opened with an even-par 72 Tuesday and then fell back with an 84 to finish fifth with a 156 total.
Bennet Cotten, of Winnetka, IL, and Shane Hoben, of Minneapolis, MN, shared third-place with 155 totals. Cotten had rounds of 82-73 for 155 and Hoben had scores of 78 and 77 for another 155.
Cotten’s 73 was the low 18-hole score on the second day of the tournament.
Matt Nalley, of Grand Haven, finished 12th in the boys’ 12-18 division with rounds of 77 and 87 for a 164 total. Alec DeJonge, of Niles, the other Michigan entry, finished 19th with a 177 total on rounds of 85 and 92.
Ned Rohrbach, of Glencoe, IL, and Starkman had 154 totals to set up a playoff for the college men’s division. Rohrbach had rounds of 80 and 74 playing from the gold tees while Starkman countered with rounds of 81 and 73. Starkman won the title on the first extra hole. There were three entries in the college men’s division.
In the girls 12-18 age group, Blake Yaccino, of Kenilworth, IL, played steady golf both days in winning the division title with a 164 total. She had rounds of 80 and 84.
Maddy Swank, of Clarendon Hills, IL, came in second with a 165 total on rounds of 82 and 83.
Cailee Beisswanger, of Oak Brook, IL, had a 166 for third place, and Tiffany Boak, of Woodridge, IL, carded a 167 total for fourth in the seven-entry division. Beisswanger had the low score in the final round for the girls’ entries with an 81.
The two-day tournament, an event on the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour, attracted 32 entries. The boys’ 12-18 division had the most with 21, and 20 played on both days of the tournament. A disqualification eliminated one player after the opening round.