Semifinals of 102nd W.Y. Dear Junior Championship Set for Thursday
Pictured: Ryder Hodgson, NJSGA E-Club
MONROE, N.J. - The Semifinals of the 102nd W.Y. Dear Junior Championship is set for Thursday morning at Forsgate Country Club.
Barnes Blake will face Ryder Hodgson at 7:30 a.m., while Derek Gutierrez will take on Jacob DeJesus on 7:42 a.m.
For Blake, who has had a standout summer, winning both the Carter Cup and the Met Junior Championship in July is utilizing those exeperiences at Forsgate.
“They provided a lot of confidence for my game and I felt like that kind of correlated to success so far this week,” Blake explained. “A couple of shaky tournaments here and there, but ultimately held that confidence together and know that I could play well if I held my head in there and that's pretty much what I've done so far.”
Blake, who is Georgetown University bound is seeking redemption for last year after an early exit from match play after earning the top seed at Navesink Country Club
"This is the last tournament before I head to Georgetown, my last Junior Golf event,” Blake said. “It would be awesome to finish on a high note and hopefully continue this momentum going into the college season.”
Hodgson, 18, who is competing in his first W.Y. Dear Junior Championship took down medalist TJ Betlow in the Quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals.
“It feels pretty good,” Hodgson said of advancing to the semifinals. “I’ve been putting a lot of work on my game to get better. I’m excited for tomorrow.”
Gutierrez, who is headed to Rutgers University in the fall will take on DeJesus, an incoming freshman at Piedmont University. Gutierrez defeated Vertti Hamalainen in the Round of 16 and then Braden Bhalla in the Quarterfinals. DeJesus took down the No. 2 seed Daniel Cassidy in the Round of 16 and Liam Brandt in the afternoon Quarterfinal by winning the last two holes to win 1-up.
The 1st hole of the final match on Thursday will be live streamed on Instagram at NJSGA1900.
Quarterfinal Results
Ryder Hodgson, NJSGA E-Club d TJ Betlow, Baltusrol Golf Club, 19 holes
Barnes Blake, Baltusrol Golf Club d. Jake Morgan, Deer Run Golf & Tennis Club, 4&3
Jacob DeJesus, NJSGA E-Club d. Liam Brandt, Black Oak Golf Club, 1-up
Derek Gutierrez, Plainfield CC – West 9 d. Braden Bhalla, The Ridgewood Country Club, 4&2
Round of 16 Results
TJ Betlow, Baltusrol Golf Club d. Winston Blank, Baltusrol Golf Club, 3&2
Ryder Hodgson, NJSGA E-Club d. Zach Fisher, Copper Hill Country Club, 4&3
Barnes Blake, Baltusrol Golf Club d. Jack St. Ledger, Montclair Golf Club, 4&3
Jake Morgan, Deer Run Golf & Tennis Club d. Eshaan Golccha, Neshanic Valley Golf Course, 3&2
Jacob DeJesus, NJSGA E-Club d. Daniel Cassidy, Trump National – Colts Neck, 3&2
Liam Brandt, Black Oak Golf Club d. Patrick Sharpe, Jumping Brook Country Club, 2&1
Derek Gutierrez, Plainfield CC – West 9 d. Vertti Hamalainen, Montclair Golf Club, 2-up
Braden Bhalla, The Ridgewood Country Club d. Robbie Gantert, Rockaway River Country Club, 6&4
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