AJGA Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational

Leaders from Day 1

Goodwin, Cooper wrap up titles

Noah Goodwin (right) of Cornith, Texas, and Hailee Cooper of Montgomery, Texas, line up their putts on the 16th green during the Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational at Blessings Golf Club in Johnson. Goodwin won the boys individual title and Cooper won the girls individual title.
Noah Goodwin (right) of Cornith, Texas, and Hailee Cooper of Montgomery, Texas, line up their putts on the 16th green during the Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational at Blessings Golf Club in Johnson. Goodwin won the boys individual title and Cooper won the girls individual title.

JOHNSON -- Noah Goodwin had no equal at the Arkansas Junior Golf Association Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational.

Goodwin took a four-stroke lead into the final round and opened play Thursday with three birdies on the first four holes to run away with the boys championship at Blessings Golf Club. Goodwin fired an 8-under 64 and finished at 13-under 203 for the tournament. He was 9 over after 16 holes Thursday and won by 14 strokes.

In the girls division, Hailee Cooper overcame a string of early bogeys to earn a five-stroke victory with a 1-over 217. Cooper finished the final round with a 3-over 75.

Goodwin had five birdies and a bogey on the front side to turn at 4-under 33 on the day. Goodwin, of Corinth, Texas, started the back side with back-to-back birdies to go to 7 under for the day and 12 under for the tournament.

Goodwin, 15, had 18 birdies, 4 bogeys and 1 eagle over his 54 holes.

"I made birdies on the first few holes and that got me off to a really good start," Goodwin said. "I came into this week with a lot of confidence, and to be able to finish strong means a lot."

Mason Nome of Houston finished second in the boys division after carding a 1-over 73.

Cooper, of Montgomery, Texas, took a four-stroke lead at 2 under into the final round but was 5 over after her first five holes Thursday while moving to 1 over for the tournament. Cooper, 15, closed out the front side with two birdies for a 3-over 40.

Cooper had back-to-back birdies at No. 15 and No. 16 to pull away from runner-up Gina Kim of Chapel Hill, N.C. Kim finished at 6-over 222.

"I was 5 over after five, so I knew I needed to make some birdies," Cooper said. "I made five birdies the first day, so I knew I could get it back. I knew I really had to radio in. I got a little jump start with birdies on eight and nine."

Tournament officials expect the tournament to return to Blessings Golf Club next year, possibly with a few minor changes, but the new format of two boys and two girls playing in each foursome was popular with most golfers and is expected to remain.

Kim said the mixed format helped her game over the three-day tournament.

"It helps me focus better when I am playing with the boys," Kim said. "I think Stacy Lewis was smart about this one, and I really like the format.

"I hope they keep it."

Sports on 06/26/2015

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