Lees, Kerr go low at Hickory Valley

   Agnes Irwin sophomore Kaitlyn Lees and Cardinal O’Hara senior Alec Kerr had strong showings in a two-day Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour event at the challenging Hickory Valley Golf Club near Gilbertsville.

   It was a winning effort for Lees, who displayed her typical consistency in Friday’s final round by parring the last six holes for a 7-over 79 over the 5,839 Hickory Valley layout. Lees had grabbed the lead with an opening-round 76 and never let go. Her 155 total was seven shots clear of Minuette Laessig of Barto, who had rounds of 83 and 79 for a 162 total.

   The usual Junior Tour age breakdown was not in effect for this event, so Lees beat a field of 13-to-18-year olds for her fourth win of the still young 2015 season.

   Notre Dame senior Maggie Cass had rounds of 94 and 91 to finish ninth at 185.

   Kerr had grabbed the lead after the first round with an even-par 72 on a Hickory Valley course measuring 6,236 yards for the boys. He fell back a little with a 78 in the second round and shared second place with William Mitchell of Moorestown, N.J. at 7-over 150. Wills Montgomery of Exton surged past Kerr with a final-round 73 to edge him and Mitchell by a shot at 6-over 149.

   Frank Rauscher of Wayne had rounds of 80 and 98 for a 178 total that left him in 45^th place. Mathew Barkann of Newtown Square was another five shots back in 48^th place with rounds of 93 and 90 for a 183 total.