BRUNSWICK

A year after hosting the Maine Amateur Golf Tournament, the Brunswick Golf Club was once again home to a “major” tournament in Maine.

On Wednesday the Maine State Golfers Association held it’s final found of the Maine Junior Tournament, crowning five overall winners for both the boys and girls, ages 13-15, 16-18 and 12- and-under.

While Ryan Collins edged Mitchell Tarrio in the first playoff after each finishing at even par 144 after 36 holes in the boys 16-18 flight, Rachel Smith (152) earned the top spot on the girls side and Mia Hornberger (170) grabbed the girls 13-15 flight. Bennett Berg (156) was best on the boys side.

In the boys 13-15 flight, Mt. Ararat’s Parker Bate entered the second and final round tied for fourth, trailing Berg by three strokes.

Starting on hole No. 10, a pair of bogeys sandwiched around two pars, put Bate further back early. Bate scored another par on No. 14 before shooting 5-over the last three holes on the first nine to shoot a 46, one-stroke more than Tuesday’s total.

Playing a couple of groups ahead, Freeport High School’s T.J. Whelan improved his opening day score of 46 on the final nine holes with a solid 6-over 43, including a birdie on hole No. 16.

After a solid drive, Whelan faded his second shot around the corner to give himself a good look at the green.

“I was about 120-yards out, I stuck my pitching wedge about 7 feet away and birdied out,” Whelan said.

Playing in his first golf championship, Mt. Ararat’s Ty Henke shot a 20-over 92 on Tuesday, and struggled out of the gate on Wednesday.

“This is my first year playing competitive tournaments and my first real big championship,” said the soon-to-be freshman. “Yesterday was bit of a learning experience, I shot OK, but probably played better in my practice round. Today, I believe that just being a member here, I may have put a lot of pressure on myself wanting to do well here.”

After a rocky start, Henke (197) finished up both of his front and back nines with solid pars on holes 9 and 18.

“That was a real confidence booster. With the tough round I was having, the pars really mean a lot,” Henke added. “They keep you going when things get tough, keeping the round going and you stable.”

Back nine

Whelan finished the day with a 7-over 43 on the final nine holes. The soon-to-be sophomore at Freeport High School was pleased with his play on Wednesday and was sure to mention the valuable experience of tournament play.

“I thought I played pretty well today. The scores didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, but overall I feel good about it,” Whelan said, finishing in eighth place (175). “It’s great to get this experience at such a young age. It sets you up for the high school and what comes ahead.”

Bate continued his consistent play on the back nine, scoring par on holes No. 11, 12 and 14, but double-bogeys on 15 and 17 slowed his backnine charge.

“It’s different playing tournament golf. When you’re playing by yourself or with friends you can just pick up a ball or quit on a hole,” said the 13-year old. “But when you’re playing tournament golf, you have to play through your struggles. You can’t get down on yourself on a bad shot, you have to keep moving on.”

Bate did move on, capping his final round of the tournament with an 17-over 89, good for seventh place (173) in the age bracket.

Other golfers from the area finishing on Wednesday were Cade Charron (T13, 159), Willie Kavanaugh (T20, 167), and Ethan Sclar (T126, 170), all competing in the boys 16-18 flight.