Andrew Sciortino is shown after earning medalist honors to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur
photo by Contributed
Andrew Sciortino continued his recent impressive run of golf compiled over the past two weeks at the 53rd Southern Junior Championship.
The rising senior at Brentwood Academy shot 4-under 68 on Friday at Dataw Island Club in St. Helena Island, S.C. to earn a share of medalist honors at 10-under 206 before eventually falling to champion Bailey Sutter of Cullman, Ala. on the first playoff hole.
Sciortino’s round featured an eagle on the par-5 3rd hole for the second straight day, and he led by one shot entering the final two holes of regulation. Sciortino posted a a birdie on No. 18, but Sutter closed with a birdie-birdie finish to force the playoff.
After shooting 71 on his opening round of the 54-hole event, the 17-year-old Sciortino rallied to register rounds of 67-68 the last two days.
His sterling performance comes on the heels of two other strong showings. He earned medalist honors at a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier by shooting 4-under 67 at the Country Club of Birmingham on May 28th, punching his ticket to the event to be held July 21-26 at Trinity Forest Club in Dallas.
Sciortino had another near-miss at last week’s Tennessee Junior PGA Championship, finishing one shot off the lead of medalist Brayden Bennett’s 7-under 137. He then fell in a playoff for the second qualifier to the Junior PGA Championship to Ben Blackburn, but has status as first alternate.
Chattanooga’s Billy Boroughs and Sciortino’s Brentwood Academy teammate Carter Graham were among those tied for 12th at the Southern Junior, finishing at 5-under 211. Braden Ray of Franklin shot 4-under 212 for 17th, Ooltewah’s Tucker Wick and Jackson Whaley of Collierville shot 3-under 213 to tie for 18th, Michael Shivers closed at 3-over 219 to tie for 42nd, Cooper Solberg of Memphis tied for 46th at 5-over 221 and Brantley Moore of Memphis tied for 51st at 8-over 224.
For complete results, go to Southern Junior results
Herrington Surging at Sunnehanna
After a challenging opening round that resulted in a disappointing 75, Dickson’s Jackson Herrington has staged a strong couple of days at the prestigious 84th Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown, Pa.
The rising sophomore at the University of Tennessee and defending Tennessee State Open champion rallied to shoot 66 on Thursday and bettered that with a score of 65 on Friday to move to 4-under 206, nine shots off the lead held by Tyler Watts entering the final round.
Herrington has tallied 11 birdies with only two bogeys the past two days at the 6,880-yard, par 70 Sunnehanna Country Club to move into a tie for 26th along with former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer Garrett Engle.
Herrington’s UT teammate, Christian Pardue of Arlington, is tied for 44th at 2-under 208 with Knoxville’s Kaleb Wilson, while Shelbyville’s Evan Woosley-Reed – also a member of the Vols golf team - is at even par 210.
For live scoring and complete results, go to Sunnehanna results
Oakmont Gets Best of Tennessee Golfers at U.S. Open
The brutal setup at menacing Oakmont Country Club was the overall winner through the first two rounds of the U.S. Open Championship, with only three golfers breaking par.
Among the contingent of golfers with Tennessee connections, only Baylor School alum Harris English will be playing this weekend after posting a 7-over 147 to finish inside the cut on the number.
Chattanooga’s Stephan Jaeger closed his two days’ work at 9-over 149, while Franklin resident and former Vanderbilt golfer Harrison Ott finished at 14-over 159.
A long day on Friday got even longer for a pair of amateurs with state ties. Knoxville’s Lance Simpson and Cameron Tankersley of Dickson each had one hole remaining – Simpson on No. 18, and Tankersley at No. 9 – before storms suspended play, forcing them to return early Saturday to complete their second round.
Simpson stands at 11-over entering his final hole, while Tankersley is 13-over.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com