Jake Kevorkian IV faced the #1 seed, Jordan Miller, this morning in the quarterfinals of the Junior Match Play Championship (Boys 16-18 age division) at Wyndemere Country Club. Kevorkian, of Clearwater, took a quick lead against Miller who resides in Bradenton. Through 12 holes Kevorkian was 5 up, but Miller battled back and won the next 4 holes to head to the final hole 1 down. Kevorkian made an eight foot par putt to win the match 1 up.
Kevorkian faced the #4 seed, Dominick Vennari, in the semifinals. Kevorkian held a 2 up lead through the 11th hole and then Vennari won the 12th. On the driveable par 4 12th hole, both players missed the green with their tee shots. As Vennari prepared to chip from the edge of a bush he stepped on a branch unintentionally improving his area of intended swing. Kevorkian witnessed it and wanted the Rules of Golf applied. Vennari received a loss of hole penalty according to Rule 13-2 which put Kevorkian 2 up. Vennari fought back and went to the 18th hole only 1 down. He had a lengthy putt to extend the match, but it slid by the hole giving Kevorkian the 1 up win.
The #10 seed, Lucas Trim, knocked off Ryan Gendron, of Tampa, in the quarterfinals winning the match 1 up. In the semifinals, Trim, also from Tampa, faced Jalen Ledger, who recently finished third at the Boys' Junior Championship. Trim (pictured right) held a lead throughout most of the match as Ledger struggled with his putting. Trim was dormie after the 15th hole, but Ledger won the 16th and 17th holes to get back to 1 down. On the par five 18th hole Ledger's tee shot found a bunker forcing him to layup down an adjacent fairway. Without knowing the exact distance Ledger guessed and his shot would land one yard too short and bounce off the rocks into the water hazard ending his chances.
Lucas Trim will face Jake Kevorkian IV in the18 hole final match at 7:30 AM Saturday at Wyndemere Country Club.
In the Ben Hogan Bracket, Austin Schultz, of Fort Myers, defeated Hunter O'Mahony, of Tequesta 4 & 3.
In the Bobby Jones Bracket, Robert Butler, of Estero, defeated Michael Faulkner, of Cape Coral 1 up.
In the Sam Snead Bracket, John Andrew, of Fort Myers, defeated Keenan Deignan, of North Palm Beach 2 up.
