Petty is on top of the world, again
Brian Harmon winning the Open was a surprise. Davis Petty winning another Under Armour Junior World Championship, not so much. Petty, who was the Player of the Year last year, added another World Championship to his resume with his second straight age group win, this time in the 14 and under division, at the UA Junior Worlds Summer Championship in Orlando.
Last year Petty won the 12 and under title and could have played in the same age group classification if he wanted, but instead he stepped up to play in the 14 and under championship and the result was the same. Petty shot his way into a share of the lead in the first round at the Reunion Resort in Orlando with a 4-under par 68. Three other golfers started the second round tied with Petty, but only David Pyle was able to stay close to Petty after he birdied four straight holes early in his round.
“I got off to a good start making five-birdies in a row, but David is a really good player and he caught me and took the lead,” he said. Pyle was playing in his proper age group classifications and was a couple of years older than Petty. He also brought a level of experience that comes from playing AJGA events. After the hot start Pyle caught Petty and had a 1 shot lead going to the 13th hole. Petty birdied the hole to get even and both golfers finished with pars, but Petty needed a tricky six-footer to fall to be in the playoff. “I felt pretty confident going into the playoff,” said Petty. “I had played two good rounds and I made a tough putt on 18 to force the playoff,” he said. Petty almost won the title on the first extra hole, but a 25 foot birdie attempted lipped out, On the next hole a two-putt par earned him his second straight World Championship. “When I got here if someone had said I would be in a playoff for the win, before I started playing, I would have taken that and started the playoff,” he said.
With the upper level competition the young golfer has played in his age group and now stepping up a classification it might be hard for Petty to find new “World’s” to conquer. He can list among his wins five different versions of Under Armour Junior titles and a handful of top three finishes to go along with his US Kids World title. While the national wins both sound and are impressive his age group victory at the Future Masters and close to home wins in SCJGA’s The Blade and Jackie Seawell Junior has often made Petty the golfer to beat at almost any level he plays. The UA World Champion next will play at Pinehurst in the US Kids World Championships and he will also tee it up as a member of a local PGA Junior League team. “I’m a little tired know, but that is from the plane flight, but when I’m on the course I don’t get tired. I love to play and winning is always special, but even if I didn’t I love the game,” he said.
In addition to Davis Petty winning his age group title, Poppy Dawson (l) and Arley Jennings (r) each earned All-World recognition at the Under Armour event. (Petty Family Photo) Several other golfers from the Upstate had good showings at the national Under Amour tournament. Arley Jennings from Spartanburg finished tied for fourth place in the girls 12 and under division. Spartanburg County Junior Girls champion Poppy Dawson made All-World with her 8th place finish in the girls 14-under division. John Sanabria forced a playoff in the Boys 8 and under division, and finished second. (Petty Family Photo)
John Sanabria from Greenville forced a playoff in the Boys 8 and under division before being topped in the playoff.
Scores from the Under Armour Summer World championship https://www.uagolftour.com/page/show/7697009-worlds-summer-2023
Allendale leads Greenville Co Junior
William Allendale shot a 3-under par round of 69 at Holly Tree to take the first round lead at the Greenville County Junior Am.
Allendale is followed closely by Owen Kinnunen at 2-under par and South Carolina High School Class A individual champion Henry Hall who is tied with Jack Magera at 1-under for third place..
The girls 13-18 leader s Ramy Reynolds who shot an opening round 76 to hold the lead over Anaston Bell going into the final round on Tuesday.