Watson's strong back nine gives him a Junior Tour win at Spring Hollow

   A strong back nine by Luke Watson of Royersford proved to be the difference as he won a scorecard playoff for the 13-to-15 division title after his 2-over 72 was matched by Jake Maddaloni of Newtown Square and Ryan D’Ariano of West Chester in the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour stop Saturday at Spring Hollow Golf Club on the outskirts of Spring City.

   Watson was awarded the top spot on the strength of his back-nine 34 while Maddaloni took second with his 36 on the incoming nine after a strong effort by all three players over the 6,006-yard, par-70 Spring Hollow layout on a perfect day for golf.

   John Olsen of Boalsburg and John Bradbeer of Bryn Mawr finished in a tie for fourth, each carding an 8-over 78. Jake Shmonov of Harrisburg and Luke Corcoran of Lansdale shared sixth place at 80.

Darren Nolan of Glenside and George Wicks IV of Phoenixville finished tied for eighth, each posting an 81, and Tyler Kenneson of Exton rounded out the top 10 with an 82.

   Nathan Pierce had four birdies on his card as he fired a 4-over 74 to take the top spot in the 16-to-18 division. Drew Steinmetz, a junior at The Hill School, was the runnerup with a 76.

   Axel Kalbach of Royersford finished third with a 77. Jack Murray, Steinmetz’s classmate at The Hill and a Stonewall looper, headed a group of three players tied for fourth at 78. He was joined at that figure by Liam Ward of Malvern and Conner Gollwitzer of Boyertown.

   Nikita Romanov of Wilmington, Del. finished alone in seventh with an 82 and Jack Hamilton of West Chester was eighth with an 83. Rounding out the top 10 were three players tied for ninth at 84, including Thomas Butler of Telford, Samuel Bertrando of West Chester and Will Horn of Narberth.

   Angelina Tolentino of Mount Laurel, N.J. continued her strong play as she birdied the par-4 third hole on her way to a 79 that gave her a victory in the girls 13-to-15 division. Ava O’Sullivan of Exton was the runnerup with a 92.

   Serena Bagga of Blue Bell finished third with a 93 and Kaitlyn Ferrer of Kennett Square was fourth with a 103.

   Maya Torpey of Malvern had two birdies on her way to an 82 that topped the field in the 16-to-18 division. Torpey has been a winner in each of her last three Junior Tour starts.

   Grace Hickey of Downingtown and Jessica Shao of Pottstown shared second place, each posting an 85. Amanda Heins of Malvern finished fourth with a 94 and Helen Shaw of Harleysville was fifth with a 102.

   Daniel Shin of Horsham had six pars in a steady round as he carded a 3-over 38 to capture the top spot among the nine-holers. Ajeet Bagga of the Blue Bell Baggas was the runnerup with a  solid 41.

   Aidan Scott of Harleysville finished third with a 45 and Nicholas Joyce of Quakertown and Stefania Fedun of Glenmoore shared fourth place, each posting a 46. Kayla Maletto of Sinking Spring was sixth with a 47 and Kate Roberts of Phoenixville was seventh with a 48.

   Ethan Martin of North Wales finished eighth with a 49. A third member of the Bagga contingent from Blue Bell, Kiran, was ninth with a 54 and Angelo Seravalli of Philadelphia rounded out the top 10 with a 63.