Sutton sixth in elite tourney

Lancaster area junior golfer Anthony Sutton had an impressive weekend on the links at the Jekyll Island Cup, an invitation-only tournament held by U.S. Kids Golf on the Georgia coast.

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Lancaster area junior golf standouts Anthony Sutton, left, and Brady Hinkle played in an invitation-only U.S. Kids golf tournament at Jekyll Island, Ga.

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Sutton, competing in the boys 11 age group, squared off against 53 of the best golfers in the country on a long and windy course at Jekyll Island Resort.

Sutton, playing Indian Mound, started his tournament paired with Simms Abney of Madison, Miss., and Brady Pevarnik of Latrobe, Pa., on Saturday March 24.

Sutton started strong with a front-nine 38.

A thunderstorm rolled through and delayed play for two hours and it slowed Sutton’s momentum with him posting a back-nine 40.

The first-day 78 left Sutton tied for 13th and hoping for a better final round.

Pevarnik’s dad complimented Sutton on his play and how he carries himself on the course, saying that Sutton is known for playing without help and was glad his son, Brady, was able to see it first hand.

The comment made Sutton’s father, Tony, very proud.

The final round had Sutton paired with Fletcher Wunderlich of New Albany, Ohio and Jared Wilson of Columbiana, Ohio.

It was a reunion of sorts as Sutton and Fletch had played together in Scotland in the European Championships in 2008.

Sutton again played a strong front nine, shooting a 37 and was making a move when a four putt on the 10th ended any hopes of winning the tournament.

Sutton still shot a solid back-nine score of 39 for a final round tally of 76 which moved him into a tie for sixth to finish a great showing at a premier event.

Ryan Goldfarb of New York, N.Y., won posting a two-day total of 147, seven shots ahead of Sutton.

Sutton played at the Country Club of Salisbury, N.C., last Sunday in a U.S. Kids local tour which he’s leading in points with 150 after winning the first five events.

Sutton posted an eight-shot win, carding a 75. The runners-up included Logan Biggers of Lexington, S.C., and Tanner Wood of Pleasant Garden, N.C. 

Biggers and Wood each carded an 83.

Sutton, a Buford Elementary School fifth grader and a member of the Lancaster chapter of the S.C. Junior Golf Association, is also set to play in the Fuzzy Zoeller Jr. Invitational and Long Drive Championships at Edgewater Golf club on May 14 along with several local junior standouts.

 “Come out and show your support for these future stars,” said Sutton’s father Tony.