Incoming UTM golfer wins final junior event

Ben Reeves, an incoming freshman from Knoxville, closed out his American Junior Golf Association career with a victory he will never forget.
Reeves, who will play golf at UT Martin this fall for head coach Jerry Carpenter, overcame the effects of Tropical Storm Debby early in the tournament and then beat Andy Zhang, the youngest player ever to appear in the U.S. Open.
On the last day of the Hank Haney Junior Open in Hilton Head, S.C., recently, Reeves took the tournament lead on the first hole with a birdie, but ended the front nine at 5-over for the tournament.
Despite being 5-over after nine holes, Reeves was one stroke off the lead, but managed to move into a three-way tie for the lead (5-over) on the 15th hole.
Reeves birdied the 16th hole to move to 4-over and the lead.
He held on with pars on 17 and 18 to finish the event in first place, but he never knew where he stood in the tournament during the final round until after he was finished.
Reeves shot a 75 in the tough conditions on Tuesday in the first round and found himself tied for 11th, only three shots back from the lead. On the second day in the wind, he shot an even par round of 72, which put him into a tie for first place with Matt Cheng, a local resident who attends the Hank Haney Golf Academy.
Reeves closed out his AJGA career by winning back-to-back tournaments. Before winning the Hank Haney Junior Open, he won the Music City Junior presented by Toyota at Richland Country Club in Nashville.
Published in The WCP 7.10.12

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