Alec Davis wins at junior tourney

WEST LAFAYETTE -- The final round of the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour's Championship at Purdue ended with another beautiful day for golf and four deserving champions. In the Boys Division, Alec Davis (2014) of Greencastle, shot a three-day total of 221. In the Girls Division, Kelly Anderson (2015) of Wheaton, Ill., scored a tournament total of 235. In the College Division, Jack Kegelmeyer (2015) of Dayton, Ohio led the men with an overall score of 223, while Angie Kim (2013) of Schaumburg, Ill., had a three-day total of 245 for the women.

The 2014 MAJGT Championship at Purdue is a 54-hole stroke play competition featuring 47 Midwest junior and 14 college golfers representing Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Florida and Ohio along with a junior from Singapore. This tournament featured the Kampen Course and all four divisions played a par-72. The Boys Division played from 6,844 yards and the Girls Division played from 5,948 yards. While the College Men played from 7,250 yards and the College Women played from 6,287 yards.

Davis held an impressive three-day lead in the Boys Division, with a round of 2-over-par 74, even par 72 and 3-over-par 75. Throughout the three days, Davis recorded nine birdies.

"I didn't feel pressure on the first two days," Davis said. "On the third day, I really wanted to keep my lead, so I started to feel it then. I just took it one shot at a time."

Davis played against strong competition. In second place, Nicholas Nguyen (2018) of Mattoon, Ill., was one of the youngest players in this championship, and he was only three strokes behind Davis.

Nguyen shot an 8-over-par 224. Gehrig Hollatz (2015) of Lockport, Ill., came in third place with a tournament total of 231.

Anderson came in first for the Girls Division after shooting a 3-over-par 75 on day three. Anderson led the girls on the first day, but fell into second place on the second day. However, in the end, Anderson made a strong comeback in the third round to take the lead.

"Today, I pretended I was playing golf with my dad, and I just relaxed," Anderson said. "I've always done well in the MAJGT tournaments, and it felt really great to have my hard work finally pay off."

Jessica Lee (2017) of Oak Brook, Ill., came in second place for the girls division, after she shot a tournament total of 238, only three strokes behind Anderson. Lee played well throughout the tournament and even took the lead after the second round. In third place was Cailee Beisswanger (2014) of Oak Brook, Ill., after carding a three-day total of 239. Beisswanger had the lowest score on the second day, which helped her secure her place.

Kegelmeyer held the lead for all three days of the championship for the College Men Division, with rounds of a 4-over-par 76, a 3-over-par 77 and a 2-under-par 70 on the final day. Kegelmeyer's five birdies on the final day locked in his first place position. In second place, Nate Esler (2011) of St. Charles, Ill., played consistently throughout the three days, shooting a 5-over-par 77 each day. Esler recorded eight birdies throughout the competition and even had an eagle in the second round.

In the College Women Division, Kim shot a tournament total of 249, and she maintained her lead throughout the championship. Kim recorded the lowest scores for both rounds one and two, which helped her take the lead by five strokes. Courtnee Cossell (2012) of Kokomo, Ind., came in second place after shooting the lowest score of the day for round three. Cossell had a three-day total of 253.

"We have returned to Purdue for six years now, and each year proves to be another success for the players and the MAJGT," said manager of marketing and communications. .Gracen Kostelecky. "This is one of the longest standing tournaments the MAJGT has held, and we look forward to our continuing relationship with the course and its staff in the future."

The MAJGT is designed for exceptionally talented junior golfers throughout the Midwest ages 12-18 and is nationally recognized by the Junior Golf Scoreboard and American Junior Golf Association with all of its events providing national exposure. The Championship at Purdue also features a College Division for both men and women.