STLToday.com Boys Recap by Greg Uptain
STLToday.com Girls Recap by Greg Uptain
By: Karena Ballard
After a long summer season, the Gateway PGA Junior Tour has crowned their 18- Hole champions after a two-day event at WingHaven Country Club that ended on Tuesday, August 9th, 2022.
At the event, participants were given stress baseballs, as $5 of their entry fee went to support Cardinals Care, the St. Louis Cardinals effort to support children in the local community.
The Championship was broken into multiple categories depending on gender and age division. On top of the age division winners, an overall boys and girls champion was crowned.
Landon Barks of Poplar Bluff, Mo. shot a 147 (+3) to win the Boys 12-13 division. Cole Packingham of Lake Saint Louis, Mo. shot a 151 (+7) to win the Boys 14- 15 division. Matthew Politte of Saint Louis, Mo. shot a 146 (+2) to not only win the Boys 16-18 division, but also secured the Overall Boys Champion title.
Sara Hyten of Edwardsville, Ill. shot a 150 (+6) to win the Girls 12-14 division. Isabella Buckley of Lake Saint Louis, Mo. shot a 147 (+3) to win the Girls 15- 18 division and claimed the Overall Girls Champion honor. PGA REACH Gateway Foundation President and baseball legend, Ozzie Smith, presented Buckley with her tournament plaque as well the season long Overall Girl’s trophy.
The junior season was sponsored by the Ascension Charity Classic. Throughout the summer points were accumulated in the “ Race to the Ascension Charity Classic Cup”. The top 3 winners (boys & girls) of the race earned access to a special experience at the 2022 Ascension Charity Classic.
Congratulations to all of the winners!!