NEWS
Former Liberty Golfer Jake Siegfried wins 2016 Lehigh Valley Junior Medal Play Championship
March 26, 2018
Former Liberty Golfer Jake Siegfried wins 2016 Lehigh Valley Junior Medal Play Championship
MOORE TWP. — Two years ago, Jake Siegfried was a mid-80’s golfer.
Thursday, the 18-year-old recent Liberty High School graduate became a champion.
Siegfried shot a steady 2-over-par 73-73–146 to win the 24th annual Lehigh Valley Junior Medal Play Championship on Thursday at Whitetail Golf Club.
Former Central Catholic golfer Erik Ridley was second at 76-74–150.
Nazareth rising senior Victor Tavares (79-74–153) and Central Catholic rising junior Tom Lakata (73-80–153) tied for third place.
Headed to Penn State Berks to study security and risk analysis, Siegfried credits his improvement to Bethlehem Golf Club teaching professional Eric Cogorno.
“He has really allowed me to think through my shots,” said Siegfried, a four-year starter for the Hurricane golf team. “He has taught me how to manage courses. I was shooting mid-80’s before I went to him. Now I am shooting mid-to-low 70’s.”
Siegfried entered the final round tied for the lead with Lakata at 1-over-par, three strokes ahead of Ridley and former Freedom golfer Zach Juhasz.
Beginning the final round on the tenth tee, Siegfried played a steady even-par back nine of two birdies, five pars, and two bogeys to take a six-stroke lead over Ridley (quadruple bogey on the par-4 13th hole) and Lakata, who made a triple bogey on the par-5 14th hole.
Ridley finished the front nine with two pars sandwiched around a birdie on the par-4 17th hole to cut Siegfried’s lead to four strokes.
On the front side, Siegfried birdied the first hole to get to even-par for the tournament with a five stroke lead over Ridley.
Ridley rallied to cut the lead to just two strokes with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes, while Siegfried bogeyed the par-5 fourth hole. However, Ridley double bogeyed the par-4 sixth hole to fall four strokes behind. Siegfried finished his round with three pars and a bogey in the par-5 eighth hole to win by a comfortable four-stroke margin.
Siegfried said a tip by fellow Eric Cogorno pupil J.T. Barker (two-time Lehigh Valley Sportsfest Junior Golf Classic champion) helped him to prepare for the tournament.
“I have to give J.T. credit,” Siegfried said. “He gave me a tip on driving. I hit a lot of fairways and greens the last two days.”
24th annual Lehigh Valley Junior Medal Play Championship
Whitetail Golf Club (par 72)
Final 36-hole scores:
Overall 14-19 years-old — 1. Jacob Siegfried 73-73–146 (2-over-par); 2. Erik Ridley 76-74–150; 3-T. Victor Tavares 79-74–153, Thomas Lakata 73-80–153; 5. Zachary Juhasz 76-78–154; 6. Sam Martini 77-78–155; 7. Paul Fedele 79-77–156; 8-T. Collin Seip 84-76–160, Kevin Caverly 79-81–160.
16-19 years-old — 1. Jacob Siegfried 73-73–146 (2-over-par); 2. Erik Ridley 76-74–150; 3-T. Victor Tavares 79-74–153, Thomas Lakata 73-80–153; 5. Zachary Juhasz 76-78–154; 6. Sam Martini 77-78–155; 7. Paul Fedele 79-77–156; 8-T. Collin Seip 84-76–160, Kevin Caverly 79-81–160.
14-15 years-old — Ian Arnold 88-82–170 (won title on first hole of a sudden-death playoff); 2. Joseph Altemose 82-88–170; 3. Dylan Keopraseut 89-86–175.
Girls: 1. Belle Keopraseut 80-85–165.
9-11 years-old (18 holes) — 1. Nicholas Blunt 48-52–100; 2. Prithvi Dixit 53-50–103.
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