Davis gets share of top spot in IJGT event at The Ridge at Back Brook

   Malvern Prep junior Matt Davis carded an 80 in difficult conditions Sunday at The Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes, N.J. to finish in a four-way tie for the top spot in the 15-to-19 age group in an International Junior Golf Tour major championship.

   Combined with his opening-round 76, Davis finished at 12-over 156 along with three other players. With high winds ushering the remnants of Hurricane Matthew off the East Coast, the scores went up in Sunday’s second round.

   Sharing the top spot with Davis were Charlie Kovalcik of Yardley, whose 5-over 77 matched the lowest round of the day, Matt Karrat of Chatham, N.J., who held the lead after the first round with a 75, but fell back with an 81 Sunday, and Patrick Ryan of Maplewood, N.J., who had an 80.

Luke Dougherty of Seagirt, N.J. had an 80 and finished alone in fifth place at 158.

    Davis will be one of the top contenders when the Inter-Ac League individual title is decided in the Bert Linton Memorial Thursday at Davis' home course, Aronimink Golf Club.

   Colin Peters of Mendham, N.J. matched Kovalcik’s 77 to move into a tie for sixth at 161. He was joined at that figure by Daniel Bettino of Bronxville, N.Y., who added an 84 to his opening-round 77.

Haverford School sophomore Andreas Aivazoglou posted an 85 to finish in a three-way tie for ninth at 163. Dean Cerimido of Glen Ridge, N.J., who had a second-round 81, and Liam Bishop of Bronxville, N.Y., who had an 85, shared ninth with Aivazoglou at 163.

   Another Haverford School player, senior Davis Rosato, added an 84 to his opening-round 80 to finish alone in 12^th at 164.

   Steven Lee of Scarsdale, N.Y. was the only entrant in the 14-and-under age group and was the winner with rounds of 78 and 83 for a 161 total.

   Katie Dzialga of Greenwich, Conn. and Katie Lee of Ringoes, N.J. shared the top spot in the girls’ division at 16-over 160. Dzialga carded a second straight 80 while Lee added an 82 to her opening-round 78.

   Anna Bowman of Westfield, N.Y. had taken the opening-round lead with a 76, but fell back with an 86 to finish alone in third placed at 162.

   Haley Bookholdt of Columbus,  N.J. had an 82 to finish fourth at 168 and Sarah Perine of Staten Island, N.Y. had a 90 and took fifth at 169.