Playing the difficult 460-yard par-4 18th hole, both players made par and went to a second playoff hole. There, both players’ approach shots bounded over the green. Lalonde played his third shot to 35 feet. Rogenes needed four shots from there to hole out, leaving Lalonde with two putts for victory. His par putt nestled next to the hole leaving a tap-in for the win.
Finishing in third place with a score of 2-over 212 was Randall Fojtasek of Dallas, Texas.
The winner of the Southern Junior receives a silver medal, an engraved Calamity Jane putter, a two-year exemption into the Southern Amateur Championship and lifetime exemption from all eligible Southern Junior Championships. His name is also engraved onto the Perry Adair Trophy.
ROUND TWO RECAP
Windy conditions were the headline at Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington, Ky., for Round 2 of the Southern Junior Championship. A sustained 15-25 mph wind speed led to zero under par rounds and dropped the leader down to even par.
Thomas Morrison of Dallas, Texas will take a two-stroke lead into the final round after carding a 2-over 72 to stand at even-par 140. He will be paired in the final group with Jenson Rogenes of Frisco, Texas and Jackson Lalonde of Lexington, Ky.
Ben Haggin of Lexington, Ky., the first round co-leader alongside Morrison, carded a 6-over 76 resulting in an overall score of 4-over 144. Now he is tied for fourth place with Randall Fojtasek of Dallas.
The field was cut to the low 66 players and ties for the final round. The cut line fell at 154 (+14) with 69 players advancing to the Friday’s final round.
ROUND ONE RECAP
After the first round of the Southern Junior, a local is on top. Idle Hour (Lexington, Ky.) club member Ben Haggin and Thomas Morrison of Pinehurst, N.C., each posted a 2-under 68 to share the lead at the start of the prestigious junior event.
Last summer, Haggin won the Lexington Junior City Championship. Morrison has committed to play for Duke beginning in 2023.
Haggin started his day birdie, bogey, then followed with birdies at No. 4 and 6. He finished his round with 12 consecutive pars after that. On the flip side. Morrison was 5 under after seven holes, but came home in 3 over. He doubled the par-4 17th.
Three players are tied for fifth at even-par 70 including Jenson Rogenes of Frisco, Texas, Jase Summy of Keller, Texas, and Cooper Hayes of Strawberry Plains, Tenn.
After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 66 players and ties for the third and final round.