Final Results from IJGT Pacific Coast Major at Sandpiper G.C.

A highly skilled group of junior golfers took to the course for the 36-hole IJGT Pacific Coast Major at Sandpiper Golf Club. Conditions were extremely wet, making the effective playing length of Sandpiper Golf Club much longer than the yardage listed on the scorecard.

Brett Patton of Santa Barbara, Calif., won the Boys 15-19 Division title after putting together two impressive rounds at Sandpiper Golf Club. On Saturday, Patton got off to a slow start, but he turned things around with an eagle on the par-5, fifth hole. From that point, he played steadily, making eight pars to close out his round of 4-over-par 76. He trailed first-round leader Paul Gunness-Bendetti of Calabasas, Calif. by one stroke.

In the final round, Patton got off to a hot start despite the one hour delay due to unplayable conditions on the greens. Once play resumed he made two birdies in his first four holes at Sandpiper Golf Club. This gave him a lead he would not relinquish. Patton finished his final round of 2-over-par 74 with five consecutive pars, which gave him his first IJGT victory.

Patton, a native of Santa Barbara, has played Sandpiper many times so he had a great game plan coming into the tournament. "I wanted to stay safe and keep it in the fairway. I hit 3-wood off a lot of tees," said Patton.

Finishing in second place was Gunness-Bendetti with a tournament score of 154. Michael Nam of Goleta, Calif., took third place with a tournament total of 156.

Patton's score of 2-over-par 74 on Sunday was the low round of the day in any division, and earned him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which is given to the player who records the lowest score during Sunday's final round.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Ryan Rybicki of Remsen, N.Y., won his second IJGT crown of the Fall 2012 season after outlasting his fellow competitors this weekend at Sandpiper Golf Club. On the first day, Rybicki played very solid making two birdies and nine pars on his round for a 7-over-par 79. He finished with three consecutive pars to build momentum going into Sunday's final round. It was even lower for Rybicki on Sunday as he used a solid short game to shave three strokes off his score from round one. His 4-over-par 76 on Sunday was highlighted by three birdies. Rybicki's tournament total of 155 was 22 strokes lower than his nearest competitor.

This was not the first time Rybicki had entered the final round with a lead. His kept his strategy on Sunday pretty simple. "My strategy was not to mess up," commented Rybicki.

Finishing in second place in the Boys 14 & Under Division with a tournament score of 177 was Grant Leppek of Rocklin, Calif. Mikee Ordona of Upland, Calif., earned the third place trophy after finishing the tournament with a total score of 190.

Taking home her second straight IJGT title in the Girls Division was Amelia McKee of Paso Robles, Calif. In the first round, McKee struggled early on making the turn in 9-over-par 45, but she fared much better on the back nine. She made four pars and birdied the closing hole at Sandpiper Golf Club to finish with a score of 85. On Sunday, McKee was on top of her game. She improved her score by six strokes to finish with a score of 7-over-par 79. McKee finished in style making five consecutive pars and added a birdie on the 11th hole to earn another IJGT trophy.

The key to success this weekend for McKee was to not focus on the course conditions, but instead focus on things that she could control. "I wanted to take every shot as it comes," said McKee.
Her score of 79 on Sunday earned her the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which is given to the player who records the lowest score during Sunday's final round.

The IJGT will travel down to Arizona for the PURE Grips Junior Open at Troon North on December 8-9th in Scottsdale, Ariz. This will be the last stop on the West Coast for the Fall 2012 season. The tournament at Troon North will be played on the Pinnacle Course which has won numerous accolades including being named to Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" list for 2012.

To sign up for this event or others, or for more information call (800) 792-9143 or visit www.IJGT.com.

About the IJGT

The IJGT provides exceptional junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game. As a tour that operates primarily throughout the academic year, the IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts three international events. Each event provides multi-day competition for junior golfers of all skill levels ages 9-19. Players representing 45 states and 43 countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Golf Digest/Golf World, morodZ, PURE Grips, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call (800) 792-9143.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. - Final round results of the IJGT Pacific Coast Major Championship at Sandpiper Golf Club conducted by the International Junior Golf Tour completed December 2, 2012. Boys 15-19 Division: Black Tees - 6691 yards, par 72 (73.5/133). Boys 14 & Under Division: Silver Tees - 6197 yards, par 72 (70.4./127). Girls Division: Copper Tees - 5954 yards, par 72 (76.3/135)

Weather: Rainy and Cloudy with temperatures in the Low 60s with winds of 5-10 m.p.h.
Rainy and Cloudy with temperatures in the Low 60s. with winds of 5-10 m.p.h.

International Junior Golf Tour Pacific Coast Major Championship
Sandpiper Golf Club
Santa Barbara, Calif.
December 1-2, 2012

Boys 15-19 Division - Black Tees, 6691 yards, Par 72
1. Brett Patton, Santa Barbara, CA *76-74--150
2. Paul Gunness-Bendetti, Calabasas, CA *75-79--154
3. Michael Nam, Goleta, CA *79-77--156
4. Max Meisenheimer, Newport Beach, CA *83-80--163
5. Ryan Garfield, Petaluma, CA *83-84--167
6. Alex Haynes, San Clemente, CA *88-83--171
7. Jake Leppek, Rocklin, CA *86-93--179
8. Brandon Folke, Sherman Oaks, CA *102-109--211

Boys 14 & Under Division - Silver Tees, 6197 yards, Par 72
1. Ryan Rybicki, Remsen, NY *79-76--155
2. Grant Leppek, Rocklin, CA *92-85--177
3. Mikee Ordona, Upland, CA *98-92--190

Girls Division - Copper Tees, 5954 yards, Par 72
1. Amelia McKee, Paso Robles, CA *85-79--166