ARUNDEL – The Maine Junior Championship took place at Dutch Elm GC in Arundel on July 26-27, with many of the state’s top golfers competing in the 36-hole event. This is one of Maine Golf’s oldest championship events, dating back to its first playing in 1934, and past winners of this tournament have gone on to be some of the best players to ever come from the Pine Tree State.
Players compete in different flights based by age, with winners being named from each flight. On the boys’ side of the tournament, last year’s champion Eli Spaulding (Brunswick GC) successfully defended his title, shooting rounds of 67-73—140 (-4) to win by 11 strokes. The 16-year old Freeport High School student torched the course on Tuesday, which allowed him to cruise to victory. Parker Hilchey (Samoset Resort GC) finished as the runner-up with rounds of 76-75—151 (+7).
The girls’ championship was also won by another familiar player, with Ruby Haylock (Turner Highlands CC) shooting two rounds of 77 to win the overall girls’ title. Coming off a recent win at the 2022 Maine Women’s Amateur just last week at Portland CC, the 18-year old from Hartford played steady over two days to win the flight by 14 strokes over Ruth Weeks (Portland CC).
The boys’ 14-15 flight was taken by Mick Madden (The Woodlands Club) with rounds of 72-80—152 (+8). The 12-13 flight was won by Ryan Farnsworth (Dexter Municipal GC) with 97-82—179. The 11 and under flight needed extra holes to determine a champion. Playing only 9 holes per round, after matching scores of 45-41 both days, Sam Sirois (The Woodlands Club) and Drew Mertzel (Springbrook GC) needed a playoff, with Sirois winning with a par.
Jade Haylock, younger sister of champion Ruby and overall winner from last year, won the girls’ 14-15 flight with rounds of 87-80—167 (+23). She beat out fellow Turner Highlands member Alexis McCormack by three strokes.
ONLINE: Complete Scoring