LOXLEY, Ala. — The long, tough Jerry Pate designed course at Steelwood Country Club took it’s toll on most of the American Junior Golf Association’s best during the three-day, 54-hole competition played on the highly respected par-72 near Loxley.

But a few found their groove and shot well under the 216 strokes needed for a three-round even score. Even fewer did it consistently.

Bennett Baker of Tallahassee, Fla. and Taylor Coleman of San Antonio, Texas finished with sub par totals of 202 and 210. Baker shot three-straight sub-par rounds of 71, 65 and 66 to finish with a course record of 14-under-par.

Coleman led wire to wire after each round shooting 65 and 70 in the first two rounds for a nine-under score going into the final day. The incoming junior then slipped with to 75 but held on to win by five strokes.

The top five boys (of 72 players) and top three girls (of 24) were acknowledged with trophies. Davis Riley of Hattiesburg, Miss., was second, (71-68-69—208, -8); Matthew Perrine of Austin, Texas third (71-66-72—209, -7) followed by David Mackey of Bogart, Ga. (71-69-71—211, -5 ) in fourth and Connor Slane of Helena, Ala. (72-68-72—212, -4) and Connor Smith, Birmingham, Ala. (69-70-73—212, -4) who tied for fifth.

Mobile’s Sheldon Statkewicz, a McGill-Toolen Catholic senior was one of nine other sub-par finishers —other than the top six — firing a steady 70-74-71—215 for a 1-under week and a five-way tie for eighth.    

Coleman was followed by Anna Newell of Tampa, Fla. (71-71-73—215, -1) and Rachel Dai of Milton, Ga. (74-72-71—217, +1)

Reigning Alabama 6A state champion Virginia Green of Fairhope got off to a nice 2-under 70 on day one, then faltered to card a 78 and a 77 (225, 9-over-par) finish.

The incoming freshman Lady Pirate at Fairhope High finished in a tie for sixth with Payton Schanen of Alpharetta, Ga. Who also had a good first round 68 but faltered to add 79 and 78 to her card.

The event featured advanced-level juniors from 13 states, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Japan. The Boys Division played the course at up to 7,005 yards while the Girls Division played up to 5,941 yards each day.

Just making the top 15 or top 10 in a highly competitive international tournament such as an AJGA Junior is enough to put a player on the radar of college coaches, said tournament chairman Kevin Green.

“This is not your regular field of competition by a long shot for most of these kids,” he said. “They have one thing in common for sure—they’re good or they wouldn’t be here. So, with a tough field of players and a tough and challenging course like Steelwood, it really is a good proving ground for the serious young player. They get to see what they are up against and test their mental as well as physical toughness over three days. And that’s kind of the idea is to get them out of their comfort zone at an early age. Doing well here gets you noticed.

“Golf is also just a great way to teach a lot of good qualities to kids, composure, how to handle the intensity of good days and the stress of bad days. We all have to learn to manage ourselves under pressure. And not just in sports. But golf in general kind of parallels life that way in some respects. Also they learn the value of respect and hard work.

“Consistency is a big thing in this sport, too. This type of competition is a good measuring stick for a lot of the key factors it takes in playing championship-level golf, at any age or level. Finishing in the top 10 is a big accomplishment. The top 15 is a big deal, too.”

Green also said that the course had been selected for the Sun Belt Conference Womens Championship next spring to be hosted by the University of South Alabama.

“That’s a tribute to Scott (Smith, director of operations) and Matt (Russell, head pro) and their staffs and all the work they put into making this a great facility. And also to the members who love the game and are willing to give up their golf course for these kids to experience. And now it’s going to get some major exposure at the Division One (collegiate) level. Also, the AJGA does a great job. They are real professionals. They take great care of the kids, too. But it still could not happen without all the volunteers who come out every year. We couldn’t do it without them.”

USA sophomore Jaguar Caroline Beebe who won a 5A state title while at Spanish Fort is excited about the site.

“Really looking forward to playing it here,” she said. “This is my home course now and I hope we get some more matches here too. It’s a great course." Beebe also qualified and played in earlier AJGA events at Steelwood and around the country. "It really helped me get ready for college."

Other top-10 players included Rei Nakatani of Hilton Head Island, S.C., (76-75-77—228 +12), Heather Nail, Hartselle, (73-78-77—228 +12), Claire Hodges, Sorrento, Fla., (73-76-79—228 +12) in a tie fir seventh, Madison Pacheco, Pensacola, Fla. (78-78-73—229 +13), Sydney Youngblood, Durant, Okla., (73-77-81—231 +15) and Blakesly Warren, Chattanooga, Tenn. (79-77-78--234 +18) in tenth for the girls.

For the boys Benjamin Shipp, Duluth, Ga. (75-76-65—216, E), Ryan Celano, Naples, Fla. (72-77-67—216, E), Nick Heinen, Edmond, Okla. (72-73-71—216, E) and Zachary Zediker, Gray, Ga. (74-71-71—216, E) tied for ninth and Chandler Blanchet, Gainesville, Fla. (77-72-68—217 +1) was tenth.

This was the fifth AJGA Junior held at Steelwood and presented by AT&T.