TOURNAMENT BOUND

By ROCKY STANLEY / The Independent

ASHLAND June 16, 2009 01:08 am

— Josh Robinette and Jeff Meade, both rising sophomores at Ashland Blazer, played their way into their first Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior on Monday.
Robinette shot a 75 and Meade earned his spot via a playoff at the end of the K12 Qualifier at Bellefonte Country Club.
Both players are BCC members and used their experience on the tight and sometimes tricky course to their advantage.
“I knew where to hit, where not to hit and which side of the green to be on,’’ said Robinette, who also felt a boost from local support.
“Several peope were really pulling for Josh,’’ said his father, Tim. “Everybody out here knows who he is.’’
Daniel DeLuca, a junior-to-be at Lexington Catholic, tied for the low round with a 1-over-par 71. In all, 13 boys and three girls from the field of 60 gained entry into the main tournament. The 2009 NRP Bluegrass Junior opens Wednesday at 7 a.m.
Robinette, 15, has experience on the state Pepsi and local Eastern Kentucky Junior Golf Assoication tours, but he’s thrilled about making it into his first American Junior Golf Association event. The tournament will have players from 22 states, Canada and Taiwan.
“I’ve been coming to watch this tournament the last four or five years,’’ Robinette said. “Now to be playing in it feels great. It’s like a dream come true.’’
Robinette gave himself the opportunity by overcoming nerves to play one of his better rounds at Bellefonte.
“My stomach was hurting this morning,’’ he said. “I had a hard time sleeping last night (Sunday). I was shaking a little bit on the first tee.’’
Robinette, who started on No. 10, rolled in a 45-foot putt to save par on the 13th hole and sank a 20-footer on No. 18 for a birdie.
“That kick-started the rest of my round and got me excited,’’ he said.
Robinette finished strong, using a nice punchout from the trees on No. 9 to set up an easy par.
Several would-be boys qualifiers opted to take one AJGA tournament exemption rather than stay and compete in the Bluegrass Junior. That opened the doors for several players, including Meade with a 77 total.
He found himself in a four-way playoff for the final two qualifying spots. Meade and Tyler Yaple of Dublin, Ohio, each birdied No. 1 to punch their tickets for the 26th annual tournament.
Meade watched Yaple knock in a 20-foot putt from the fringe before connecting on an 8-footer of his own.
“I was so relieved,’’ Meade said. “I was so nervous. I really wanted to qualify. After shooting 77, I didn’t think I had a chance. After they called our names for the playoff, I told myself `you’ve got to do this.’ ’’
Meade, 15, wanted to make a good showing after a rough time in last year’s tournament qualifier here.
This time, he posted birdies on 11 and 18 — the latter coming on a 30-foot putt.
“I’m pleased with the way I performed,’’ Meade said. “I’m really glad I could come back this year and show people I belong, that I could do better than last year.’’
Now, he’s looking forward to playing in the tournament with his high school teammate.
“It’s great that we both got in,’’ Meade said. “I wanted to see Josh do well, and I’m definitely excited to be there.’’
Huntington’s Thomas Dransfield, who carded a 76, was also among the qualifiers.
DeLuca and Jared Howard of Dublin, Ohio, led the way Monday with 71s. Howard took an exemption, but DeLuca chose to play this week and received the Tom and Pat Cooksey Award as the tournament’s low qualifier.
“I’m just happy to do well and put in a good showing,’’ DeLuca said.
Monday marked his first experience with an AJGA event.
“A lot of my friends played here last year,’’ DeLuca said. “They said it was an awesome tournament and awesome experience. I thought I would try to qualify. It turned out great.’’
DeLuca’s highlight was an eagle on No. 10 when he connected on a 35-foot putt from the front of the green. He was 2-under par with six holes to play.
“The greens were rolling nicely,’’ DeLuca said. “I had a couple of bogeys coming in, but overall I hit the ball well.’’
Alexandra Anderson, a 17-year-old from Charlotte, N.C., shot 80 to lead three girls’ qualifiers.
“I had to stay positive the whole day,’’ said Anderson, who had to scramble on several holes. “I only hit four greens, so the key was definitely not my long game.’’
On No. 12, Anderson said she flew the green from the sand and again on her chip before making a 20-foot putt for bogey.
“I’m proud of myself for not giving up,’’ she said. “I’m not used to the rough around the greens. It was pretty thick.’’
Overall, Anderson considered the layout to be a good challenge.
“I think the course played great,’’ she said. “The greens are in fantastic shape.’’
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.