NEW LENOX, Ill. – The first tournament of the 2018 season, the Sanctuary Open, concluded after 36-holes of competitive golf. Five players posted under-par final rounds and a playoff determined the winner in the Girls Division. In the Boys Division, Danny Fisher of Lake Forest, Ill., took home his first MAJGT victory. Meanwhile, in the Girls Division, Jo Baranczyk of Suamico, Wis., defeated Grace Curran of New Lenox, Ill., in a sudden death playoff.

The Sanctuary Open was a 36-hole, Stroke Play competition contested at Sanctuary Golf Course on April 7-8. The field was made up of junior golfers ages 12-18 from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. The Boys Division played the par 72 course from 6,916 yards, while the Girls Division played the course as a par 73 from 5,787 yards.

The MAJGT is designed for exceptionally talented junior golfers throughout the Midwest ages 12-18 and is nationally recognized by the Junior Golf Scoreboard and American Junior Golf Association with all of its events providing national exposure.

Fisher carded an opening round of even-par 72, which included two birdies and 14 pars. His second round, a 3-under-par 69, included seven birdies –three of which came on Nos. 15, 16 and 17. Fisher’s prior best finish at the Sanctuary Open was 11th place in 2017.

Coming in tied for second with a 2-under-par 142 tournament total, were Ian Johnston of Swisher, Iowa, and Aidan Lafferty of Downers Grover, Ill. Johnston carded a final round of 3-under-par 69, which included back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. Lafferty carded consistent rounds of 1-under-par 71. In fourth place, with a 1-over-par 145 tournament total, was Alex Eickhoff of Hillsboro, Ill. Rounding out the top-5 was Matthew James of Orland Park, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 7-over-par 151 total.

The Girls Division had an exciting finish with Baranczyk and Curran each carding a 2-over-par 148 tournament totals, forcing a sudden death playoff. Baranczyk carded an even-par 73 during the first round, which included five birdies. This was Baranczyk’s first MAJGT victory.

Curran carded a final round of 4-under-par 69, which was 10 strokes better than her first round. Rounding out the top-3 was Maggie Micetick of Woodridge, Ill., who finished the tournament with a 3-over-par 149 total.

Next up on the MAJGT schedule is the North Shore Open, April 14-15, at Wilmette GC.

[button link=”https://ijga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ijga18/schedule/index.htm” size=”medium” color=”#0c1c47″]Schedule[/button] [button link=”https://ijga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ijga18/event/ijga187/contest/5/leaderboard.htm” size=”medium” color=”#0c1c47″]Results[/button]