The Arrowhead Junior Golf’s Santa Maria Junior Classic was held August 29-30 at the Santa Maria Golf Club in Baton Rouge.

Easton Key of Meridian, Miss., captured the 15-18 Year-Old title outdistancing the field by 14 shots with a 71-68—139 five under par followed by Hunter Smith of Baton Rouge (74-79—153).

Franklinton’s Matthew Moseley and Lake Charles’ Blake Derouen tied for third at 157.   

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Baton Rouge’s Lewis Peters, Crowley’s John David Nickel and Pineville’s Chuck Spears tied for fifth place at 158.

Locally, Mandeville’s John Griffitt (79-80—159), a senior at Fontainebleau High, tied for eighth place with Shreveport’s Hunter Gauntlett.

Julian Mixon of Poplarville, Miss., rounded out the top 10 at 161.

Other 15-18 year old local finishers included Hammond’s Keeno Jackson tied for 17th (86-80—166) and Mandeville’s Andre Averill tied for 20th (84-84—168).

Arrowhead Junior Golf Tour Director Paul McDowell described the Santa Maria Junior Classic as a wonderful event.

“It was one of our best early autumn events in tour history featuring a large and talented field,” McDowell said.

McDowell talked about Key’s dominating performance.

“He flirted with trouble, but it didn’t seem to bother him. He scrambled very effectively when he had too. The course played extremely hard especially on Saturday when we had 45-minutes of rain,” McDowell added.

“Golfers can get into a lot of trouble on the par 3 Hole No. 5. There were a lot of train wrecks on that hole (7s and 8s). There is a large water hazard on the left and Bayou Manchac runs parallel to the hole on the right side. There is also a large bunker, which protects the front of the green. There is no place to miss that won’t hurt you. Either hit the green or you will be in trouble,” the AJGT Director said.

McDowell said the course was set up championship style due to the size and quality of the field. “We played on Saturday almost as long as the course can be played to challenge the participants. The stronger the field the more difficult you want the course to be.”

McDowell talked about the toughness of a string of holes (12-15) that were very difficult.

“The fairway narrows considerably with a number of water hazards. Hole No. 15 is the toughest green and the hole played at 567 yards, a par five. The stretch of holes parallels Amen Corner (holes 11-13) at Augusta National, site of the Masters,” McDowell added.

In the Boys 12-14 Year-Old Age Division, Coushatta’s John Lewis Sams (75-74—149)

won by two strokes over Baton Rouge’s Brennan LeBlanc (75-76—151) followed by Ruston’s Johnny Maxwell (81-80—161) .

Locally, Covington’s Christian Neal (86-80—166) earned a ninth place finish.

In the girl’s 15-18 Year-Old Age Category, Crowley’s Ali Lucas (76-71—147) captured the title by two strokes over Zachary’s Allison Kippers (78-71—149) followed by Baton Rouge’s Jara’ Templet (81-74—155). Broussard’s Hannah Schorr (84-77—161) came in fourth followed by the local top finisher Salmen sophomore Jennifer Nguyen (85-82—167).

Monroe’s Lana Hodge (78-77—155) won the Girls 12-14 Year-Old Age Division.