BELLA VISTA — Max McGreevy knew he would have to handle his emotions if he wanted to win his first American Junior Golf Association tournament Thursday.
McGreevy did just that, shaking off an early double bogey to shoot a final-round 72 to win the inaugural KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior Open at Highlands Golf Course. McGreevy, of Edmond, Okla., finished at 213 and won by six strokes over longtime rival Brendon Jelley of Tulsa and Australia’s Anthony Murdaca.
Searcy’s Connor Murphy finished fifth on the boys’ side, eight shots back at 221.
Cheyenne Knight of The Woodlands, Texas, won her first AJGA tournament with a total of 216, good enough for a three-stroke victory over Binny Lee, who took the lead from Knight for several holes before Knight made four back-nine birdies. Conway’s Summar Roachell, who has orally committed to Arkansas, finished third, seven strokes behind Knight.
McGreevy began the final round two shots ahead of Jakob Garstecki and three ahead of Jelley, whom he defeated for the Oklahoma Class 6A title earlier this year. McGreevy promptly went out and made double bogey on the second hole to allow Jelley to pull to within one stroke.
“I just stayed patient,” said McGreevy, who birdied the third hole to regain momentum. “I just tried to keep my composure through the whole thing. I was trying not to let emotions get to me. I know that happens sometimes out here.”
McGreevy made birdies on No. 6 and No. 9 to shoot 1 under on the front nine and followed with a 2-over 37 on the back nine. Jelley matched McGreevy on the front nine but struggled to a 40 on the back nine.
“I never really got anything going,” said Jelley, who has orally committed to Oklahoma State. “Max got off to a rough start, but he really came back. I had my chances.”
McGreevy will continue his rivalry with Jelley at Oklahoma. He said he never panicked after his early double bogey, and it helped when Jelley and Garstecki, who finished with a final-round 80, hit a rough stretch.
“We were dogging it out there for a while,” McGreevy said. “They both had a bad couple of holes, and I kept playing steady golf.”
McGreevy said it was reassuring to play well in a high-stakes event.
“I’m a pretty nervous player,” McGreevy said. “Honestly, I played exactly like I thought I needed to. Hopefully, these nerves will leave me someday. They probably won’t.”
Knight had to overcome her own early double bogey, one that cost her the lead she had built during the first two days. Knight trailed going into the back nine but seized her victory with a birdie binge on the back nine.
Knight had lost her past two AJGA tournaments in playoffs.
“I can’t even describe it,” said Knight, 15. “I keep thinking I have another round to play.”
Roachell was never able to quite make a run at contention and a triple bogey on 13th ended her hopes. She finished with a 1-over 73.
Clarksville’s Madison Talley finished fourth at 226 after a final-round 75.
“[Knight] played really solid all day,” Roachell said. “She didn’t make mistakes. That’s what probably helped above everything else.”