Cameron Young added the coveted Ike trophy to his overloaded trophy case this week when he ran away from the field at Friar’s Head with a final round 66 to give him a five-stroke lead over the nearest competitor. The win makes 18-year-old Young the, well, youngest ever Ike champion. It’s also the third MGA championship he has captured in his exciting career.
Young’s play in the final round cemented the title. “This afternoon, I drove it really well which left a lot of irons from the middle of the fairway,” Young said. “That makes it a lot easier out here because it’s so hard to get on the right tier on the greens.”
His first and (especially) second rounds had more bogies than he wanted, even though they were both one under par thanks to seven birdies and a timely eagle on the 505-yard seventh hole in his second round. Young stayed patient, however, and fired a bogey-free final round with a string of three straight birdies on 14 through 16.
Friar’s Head is one of Young’s favorite courses. “Every hole is different and you have to hit a different shot,” he pointed out. “Being creative and hitting every shot differently is a lot of fun.”
Stewart Hagestad of Golf & Body NYC was runner-up with a 211. Four competitors tied for third with an even-par 213. They were Ryan Snouffer of Panther Valley, Erick Alonso of White Beeches, Evan Grenus of Sterling Farms, and Jared Mactas of Paramount.
Young, who is headed to Wake Forest this fall, is the son of Sleepy Hollow head pro David Young and his wife, Barbara, who played professional golf as well and caddied for him throughout the tournament. His summer schedule includes the Westchester Open, the US Amateur, and a few junior events.
