Oktaha golfer wins Junior PGA event

Jeremy Short
Phoenix Correspondent

July 25, 2008 12:16 am

— HULBERT — The Western Hills Junior PGA event gave many local youth golfers the chance to showcase their skills Thursday.
The event was originally scheduled for July but was pushed back because of heavy rains that flooded much of the course. As a result, the tournament drew a lower than usual amount of players. Those who returned had to play a 15-hole course as three holes damaged by floods remain unplayable. Three of the 15 holes were played twice.
In the boys division, 16-18, Oktaha’s Drake Lumpkin shot a 77 to hold off Heath Pennington of Tahlequah, who finished with a 79.
“I thought it was a good round,” said Lumpkin. “I kind of fell apart on 14 when I had three bogeys and a double bogey in a row, but I was able to get it back at the end of the round.”
This victory was Lumpkin’s first this summer in 10 tournaments. He had two second-place finishes as well.
“It was weird,” said Lumpkin. “They had some problems with the course but I thought that I played decent.
Among the other winners was Tahlequah’s Jax Johnson, taking top honors in the under-11 age group. The 9-year-old cruised to a 7-shot victory after posting an impressive 37 in nine holes.
“It was pretty cool,” said Johnson. “I’ve been golfing ever since I was 3 and this is my best score.”
Tulsan Braden Robertson, 11, shot a 44 to finish second and Blake Berry from Tahlequah rounded out the top three with a 46.
The boys 12-13 year old age group was a little closer as Tahlequah’s Jake Johnson beat Tulsa’s Cameron Hamilton in a playoff after both players posted a 6-over-par 75. Matt Hindman of Tulsa shot a 79 to finish third.
The boys 14-15 division also ended in a playoff with Adair’s Cole Cramer beating Kyle Engel for the victory. Both players finished their 18 holes at 9-over-par. William Wilson of Tulsa finished third after shooting an 80.
The result was bittersweet for Owasso’s Ivory Stauner. As a result of the tournament being moved back was the only girl who participated. Stauner won the 14-15 year old age group after shooting a 94.
“It’s my birthday so I didn’t care as much about my score,” said Stauner. “I should have done a lot better.”