Schlottman rallies to take International Tour victory
By STEVE WILLIAMS
Ben Schlottman of Advance captured his second victory on the International Junior Golf Tour, rallying from a four-shot deficit to win at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
A first-round 77 at Barony Golf Course left Schlottman in 10th position on the 71-player leaderboard in the boys 15-19 division. But he put together an even-par 72 on day two and ended with a two-shot win in the late February event.
Schlottman posted five birdies on day two, including closing birds at Nos. 14, 15 and 17.
“I tried to keep the ball low and under the wind,” Schlottman said. “I made a long putt on hole No. 17 that forced me to dig deep and keep the nerves under control.”
First-day leader Chad Gehres of Brighton, Mich., slipped from 73 to 78 and settled for a second-place tie with Sun Wongwaiwate of Thailand.
Schlottman, a sophomore at Forsyth Country Day, claimed his previous IJGT victory last Labor Day.
DiIanni tops at Winternationals
Jonathan DiIanni of Kernersville claimed his third win of the year in the eight-event Pinehurst Winternational series on March 4, clinching player of the year honors in the process.
DiIanni, a senior at Westchester Country Day School, fired 69-68 at Pinehurst No. 5 and rolled to a nine-shot margin over Gregory Mauldin of Archdale.
DiIanni, who will play collegiate golf at Purdue, notched six birdies on the front nine in his second round and capped his day with an eagle on the par-5 17th.
In the freshman-sophomore division, Thomas Walsh of High Point prevailed in a sudden-death playoff that went three holes with Court Settle of Raleigh.
Walsh is DiIanni’s teammate at Westchester.
Keck wins EJGA Tour Championship
Caleb Keck of Reidsville won the tour championship of the Eastern Junior Golf Association in early March, pulling away to a three-shot victory with two late birdies.
Keck, playing in the boys 16-18 division, posted rounds of 75 and 73 at Seven Lakes Country Club and ended three shots better than Minchung Kim of Cary. Kim, who shared the first-round lead with Keck and Austin Scarboro of Southern Pines, ended with a 76 in the second round.
Keck, a senior at Rockingham County High, birdied two of the last three holes to decide a close battle with Kim.
White 2nd in FCWT event
Chandler White of Clemmons came close to a huge junior win before falling just short in a four-way playoff at the Future Collegians World Tour event at Tanglewood on March 11.
White and three other players deadlocked at 147 after two trips around Tanglewood’s Championship course. Ben Balter of Florida was eliminated on the first playoff hole and Noah Edmondson of Davidson on the second hole, leaving only White and Jeff Tremblay of Granby, Mass., in the hunt. Tremblay prevailed with a par.
White is a senior at West Forsyth High.
