Ackermann & Hyten Champion the 25th Metropolitan Junior Amateur
Eureka, MO - The Final Round of the 25th Metropolitan Junior Amateur was picture perfect. With sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a slight breeze, players were able to enjoy a day out on the links of Aberdeen Golf Club. Play for the Final Round began at 7:30am with groups going off of Holes 1 and 10. The leaders grouping of girls started their day at 8:10am on Hole 1 and the leaders grouping of boys closed out the tee times at 9:20am on Hole 1. The course played to a par 72. The girls play for the Barbara A. Berkmeyer trophy, and the boys play for the James M. Holtgrieve trophy.
Out of fourteen girls, Sarah Hyten of Edwardsville, IL was leading the pack after the first two rounds at one-under (-1) par. Emma Hill of Edwardsville, IL sat behind her in second at four-over (+4) par, and Eva Brown of St. Louis was at seven-over (+7) par in third. These three made up the final girls pairing of the day. Brown made an early run to move ahead of Hill, but some late mistakes left her short of a runner-up finish. Brown would finish the championship at nine-over (+9) par and in third place. Hill had hoped to continue improving on her scores from the first two days. After making two birdies on the back nine, Hill was looking good, but a wayward shot into the water on 18 left her with a score of two-over for the day. With a total of six-over (+6) par, Hill did secure her place as the runner-up. Sarah Hyten came into today determined to stay under par. A double-bogey on Hole 5 threatened her plans, but Hyten, an incoming Junior at Father McGivney High School, pulled it back on the back nine to make three birdies and no bogeys. Hyten would finish the day strong for a round of one-under (-1) par, which brings her total to two-under (-2) par. Sarah Hyten leaves the week victorious as the 15th Metropolitan Girls’ Junior Amateur Champion.
The boys division saw an extraordinary performance today. Coming into the Final Round, Harper Ackermann of Webster Groves was the leader at eleven-under (-11) par. Cole Packingham of Lake St. Louis followed behind in second at three-under (-3) par, while Eric Ewing of St. Louis was in third at even (E) par. These three players would make up the final pairing of the day. Six players shot even par or better in their Final Round, including Yash Rao of Fenton. Rao started on Hole 10 and came into Hole 9 - his final hole - two-over par, but with one clean hit from the fairway, he knocked it in for eagle to finish the day even (E) par. Gavin Hagan of St. Louis made a run for it today. Hagan made six birdies to shoot a final round of three-under (-3) par and push himself into fifth place at two-over (+2) par. Samuel Ottwell of Alton shot his first under par round of the week today. With five birdies, Ottwell’s two-under (-2) round placed him in fourth at one-over (+1) par.
Eric Ewing proved he was nothing but consistent this week. Hoping to finally break under par, Ewing set out and would grind his way back every time he fell, but just could not get into red figures. For a third day in row, Ewing shot even (E) par to finish in solo third at even. Cole Packingham was once again hoping to put some heat on Ackermann. Packingham stayed toe-to-toe with him on the day’s score, and fought to come back after a few bogeys. With six birdies and an eagle, Packingham shot his best score of the week at five-under (-5) par. This brought his total to eight-under (-8) par and made him the runner-up. Harper Ackermann knew he had something to prove after his incredible first two rounds. In a dominant fashion, Ackermann never looked back to throw together a second bogey-free six-under (-6) par round. The CBC incoming senior has been working hard after a rough high school season and that work is paying off. Two birdies on the front nine and two eagles on the back nine sealed the deal for Ackermann. With three rounds in the red, 66-67-66, Harper Ackermann is the 25th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Champion at seventeen-under (-17) par.
Across the field for the three days, there were 19 eagles - three of which were made by the champion - and 512 birdies made. Each runner-up was presented with a silver medal, and the Champions were presented with the Barbara A. Berkmeyer and James M. Holtgrieve trophies, respectively, which they will keep for a period of one year and a gold medal. Hyten and Ackermann both took the lead in round one and never looked back. Now they walk away Champions.
Round 1 Press Release
Round 2 Press Release
Age Division Final Press Release