Westfield’s Andrew Lewis finished tied for fourth at the American Junior Golf Association’s Polo Golf Junior Classic, which took place last week at The Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes, N.J. (Photo provided)
The Polo Golf Junior Classic is one of those events where it’s an honor to be invited.
Westfield’s Andrew Lewis was invited to play in the Classic, which has been an important stop on the American Junior Golf Association’s calendar since 1978. Lewis was not only honored to play in the event — he came close to winning.
Lewis, who just finished his junior year as a Shamrock, finished fourth at the Polo Classic. Lewis’ four-day score was a two-under par 286.
“I played some really solid golf,” said Lewis. “I had one bad round the third day that hurt my chances at winning, but it was overall a very solid tournament.”
Lewis started the tournament with a first-round score of 70, two under par, with four birdies. On the second day, Lewis fired seven birdies on his way to a four-under score of 68, putting him six under for the tournament.
Lewis shot 77 in the third round, but got it together for a one-under 71 in the fourth round. That included an three birdies and an eagle on hole No. 7.
The event winner was Karl Vilips, an Australian playing out of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Vilips carded a 280 – eight under par – to win the event.
The Polo Golf Junior Classic featured the top 70 boys golfers and top 58 girls golfers in the country.
“I found out in early April that I would be playing in the event,” said Lewis. “I got selected to play in this event because of my national junior ranking.” The week of the tournament, Lewis’ junior ranking was No. 40.
This year’s Polo Golf Junior Classic was historic for two reasons. First, the tournament expanded to four rounds for the first time. Prior to this year, the Polo Classic had been two rounds since it began in 1978.
Also, the event took place at The Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes, N.J., a small town that dates back to the pre-Revolutionary War days, and sits about 35 miles northeast of Philadelphia. This is the first time the Polo Classic was not held in a southern state.
Lewis was one of four boys from Indiana to compete. Fishers’ Austin Vukovits played, but missed the top 36 cut after a three-day score of 230. Greenwood’s Noah Gillard tied for 22nd with a 295 and West Lafayette’s Cole Bradley tied for 30th with a 299.
In the girls’ event, Carmel’s Haylin Harris tied for 19th with a 300. Harris was one of 58 girls in the Classic, and the only one from Indiana.
The list of former champions at the Polo Classic is impressive. The 1991 boys winner was none other than a 15-year-old Tiger Woods, winning one of his first major national titles on the way to a legendary career that includes 14 major championships. Other Polo Classic winners that have gone on to win major titles are Trevor Immelman and Stewart Cink on the men’s side, and Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer on the women’s side.
“The list of past winners is incredible, and it shows just how important and big this event is,” said Lewis. “I feel very honored to play in the event and not just play in it but to have a chance to win.”