WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. (Sept. 1, 2008) — Richard Dearinger, 17, of Chapel Hill, N.C., shot a final-round 68 for a tournament total 8-under-par 205 to win the Boys Division at the Woodward Video Junior at The Greenbrier Monday. Casey Ann Kennedy, 17, of Venice, Fla., made a clutch 10-foot putt on the first playoff hole to claim victory in the Girls Division.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Woodward Video Junior at The Greenbrier featured 99 players from 25 states and Canada. The field consisted of 75 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18. The Boys Division played the par-71 Greenbrier — Meadows Course at 6,756 yards, while the Girls Division played the course at 6,068 yards.
Dearinger came into the final round with a game plan of hitting fairways and greens and giving himself chances for birdies. His plan proved to be successful, as he was the only player in the field to record three rounds in the 60s. Dearinger said his putting was the key to his solid play today.
“This was my goal all week long,” said Dearinger, who earned his way into the tournament via Thursday's Qualifier. “I'm pleased with the way I played all week. I just told myself to stick to my game plan and to see if I could get a few of those putts to drop.”
Sheldon Keyte of Portage, Mich., finished alone in second place five strokes back at 3-under-par 210. Brandon Ng of Toronto, Ontario and Stewart Hagestad of Newport Beach, Calif., tied for third at even-par 213. Nicholas Austin of Midlothian, Va., Will Pearson of Memphis, Tenn., and Thomas Bradshaw of Coumbia, S.C., tied for fifth at 1-over-par 214.
In the Girls Division, Kennedy did not play her best on the back nine, but used that as motivation for the playoff. She entered it with a clear, determined mind.
“I didn't want to have any regrets,” Kennedy said. “I ripped a 3-wood right down the middle of the fairway [on the first playoff hole] and stuck my gap wedge to about 10 feet and rolled the putt in. I wanted to finish well.”
Marisa Kamelgarn of Mahopac, N.Y., Elizabeth Breed of Waynesboro, Pa., and Karen Chung of Livingston N.J., tied for second at 5-over-par 218.
