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Edwardsville, IL - The Final Round of the 26th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Championship at Oak Brook Golf Club was a wet one. For much of the day, golfers were faced with rain that would continually come and go, placing an added layer to the fold of the day’s action. Following Round 2, Cole Hendrix led the charge at five-under (-5) par for the boys, while Eva Brown led the girls at eight-over (+8) par. Though both held a decent lead, anything was possible. 
 

Eva Brown of Tapawingo National Golf Club sat comfortably at the top of the girls leaderboard coming into the final day. She had a four stroke lead over Reese Kite. Unfortunately, Kite had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury. This increased Brown’s lead to nine strokes over the competition. Brown started out strong with a birdie on Hole 3 and no bogies until Hole 7. She made the turn even for the day. The back nine did not prove easy, but she was able to finish out strong with a birdie at the 16th followed by two pars. Brown’s score for the day was one-over (+1) par, bringing her 54-hole total to nine-over (+9) par. Miley Kennard of the SIGA eClub moved into second place upon Kite’s withdrawal. Kennard began the day at seventeen-over par. She started the round off well with two birdies in the first three holes and made the turn at even for the day. Kennard lost some steam on the back nine, but was able to hold off the competition to finish as the runner-up at twenty-four-over (+24) par. Brown securely clenched the 26th Metropolitan Girls’ Junior Amateur title by fifteen strokes.  

Cole Hendrix of Whitmoor Country Club had a four-shot lead at the start of the round. Ben Gelven of Glen Echo Country Club and Hudson Shy of Bogey Hills Country Club sat behind Hendrix in a tie for second. Hendrix and Gelven both made birdie on the first hole, which would get Hendrix to six-under par and maintain his lead. For much of the front nine, there were some small movements at the top of the leaderboard. Cole Packingham of WingHaven Country Club made what would prove to be an important move by making birdie on Hole 6. This would place Packingham at a total of one-under par. Konnor Kueper of Carlyle Lake Golf Club made a jump by shooting his way to four-under par through six holes, pulling into the race with a total of even par. By the turn, Kueper was back to one-over par total, but not out of it. 

As the lead groups were nearing the turn, the heaviest of the day’s rain came pouring down. Gelven and Shy slowly began to drop back, opening the door for Packingham and Kueper to make their mark with a good back nine. Kueper had rougher back nine, which left him moving in the wrong direction. He did however close out strong with back-to-back birdies on the final holes to finish the week at two-over (+2) par. Hendrix came up the ninth hole with a four shot lead over Packingham. A ball in the water on nine left Hendrix with a double bogey and to make the turn at three-under par. With plenty of golf to play and a two stroke difference at the top, the back nine became a clash of the Coles. Hendrix found a birdie on Hole 11 to increase his lead, but this was soon undone by back-to-back bogies on the next two holes. Suddenly, Hendrix sat at two-under par, and Packingham was on his heels at one-under par.  

Packingham held steady on the back nine, and nearly came out with a bogey-free round. A lip out on the 18th ruined this and left Packingham to finish the day at even par. Packingham showed fight and consistency by completing the week with three consecutive rounds of even (E) par. Hendrix had set himself up for a look at eagle on Hole 17 as Packingham was making his way up the 18th. Unable to convert, Hendrix settled for a birdie, which would once again increase his lead. Hendrix then made his way down the final hole and would close out the competition strong with a par. This brought his total score to three-under (-3) par and three strokes above the competition. Packingham leaves the week as the runner-up for the second year in a row. Showing he is a true competitor with the skills it takes to win, Hendrix secured the title as the 26th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Champion. 

At the conclusion of the championship, Eva Brown walks away with the Barbara A. Berkmeyer trophy, alongside Cole Hendrix who leaves with the James M. Holtgrieve trophy. Both players have been working hard and are glad to see it paying off. Brown stated about her win, “It feels pretty good; taking it shot by shot and seeing the results.” When asked about his win, Hendrix said, “It feels really good to finally see some results ‘cause the work is there, and this is nice.” 

 

Final Results

Photos
Round 1 Recap
Round 2 Recap