On Saturday, June 9th the 2018 Optimist Junior Golf Qualifier took place at Sunset Ridge Golf Club. The top two qualifiers from each division advance to the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at PGA National Resort and Spa, which is held on multiple dates at the end of July.
July 17-22: Boys 10-11, Boys 12-13 and Girls 10-12
July 22-27: Boys 14-15 and Girls 13-14
July 27-August 1: Boys 16-18 and Girls 15-18
On Saturday, the girls 15-18 teed off first knowing they needed to shoot 85 or lower to qualify. Claiming the top two spots happened to be the two sisters, with Nataly Avotins shooting 80 and her sister Solomia Avotins shooting 85. The boys 10-11 included only two boys, Porter Matt, who shot 90, and Nathan Brown who had 102. For the boys 12-13 division, Punn Chittaratlert and JT Thomforde were the two low individuals, both shooting a score of 79. The medalists for boys 14-15 included, in first with a 74, Ryan Lovelass, and in second with a 77, Adam Butch. For the oldest division, boys 16-18, the competition was intense with the results coming down to the final group. The qualifiers included, with a smooth 71, Matthew Barton and with a solid even par 72, Doug Matthews.