MANSFIELD, Ohio — She may call North Carolina home now, but Nicole Adam still had a distinct home-course advantage at this week’s PGA Junior Series event at Westbrook Country Club.
A former Lexington resident, Adam shot a three-day total of 230 to win the girls 12 to 14 division and finish third overall in the girls division of the tournament, one of 10 stops nationwide on the PGA Junior Series.
“I was a member here for a long time so I know this course pretty well,” Adam said. “The greens are really tough and I kind of know how they break, so it worked really well.”
The 14-year-old Adam moved with her family to Pinehurst, N.C. about a year ago.
“It was nice to come back for a week,” said Adam, who finished third in her age division at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship during Masters week at Augusta National in early April. “Actually this is the first time I’ve been back since we moved.”
As for the return to her former home course, Adam was pleased with her performance. She shot an opening-round 74 and followed with a 76. She shot an 80 in windy conditions during Wednesday’s final round.
“Today was a little bit of a struggle but I kind of worked through it and … made a really good comeback on the back nine,” Adam said. “The other two days were really good. Overall it was a really good tournament.”
Megan Furtney (South Elgin, Ill.) won the girls overall with a three-day total of 217. With her victory, Furtney earned an exemption into the 41st Junior PGA Championship in Rhode Island on Aug. 9 to 12.
“Today I hit a lot more fairways and kept myself out of trouble,” said Furtney, who shot a final-round 70. “I am super excited about playing in the Junior PGA Championship.”
Shelby’s Alexis Jones, the defending Division II state champ, finished seventh with a 238.
Like Furtney, Jack Parker earned an exemption to the Junior PGA Championship by winning the boys 15 to 18 division. The Columbia, Mo., native carded a 208, including a course-record 8-under 64 on Thursday.
“I just kept hitting fairways and greens and my putter started to click on the last nine holes,” Parker said. “I am really excited about qualifying for the Junior PGA Championship. I am looking forward to the competition.”
Ashland’s Johnny Peck was the top local finisher, carding a 232. Ashland’s Max Watson shot a 240, while Shelby’s Brock Kehres had a 241. Ontario’s Dominic Castlevetere finished with a 258.
In the boys 12 to 14 division, Trevor Dials finished third with a 252.
