Pictured: Rylan Shim and JJ Powell
TAPPAHANNOCK -- The side of JJ Powell and Rylan Shim used a hot opening nine on Sunday and took advantage of a stumble from one of the opening-round leaders to erase a two-stroke deficit before holding on for a one-shot victory at the 10th MAPGA/VSGA Junior Four-Ball Championship at Hobbs Hole Golf Course.
Powell (VSGA Junior Golf Circuit) and Shim (USGA/VSGA GC) shot 68-63 for a two-day aggregate total of 11-under-par 131 to finish a stroke clear of Grady Williams (Hermitage CC) and Ryan Leach (Williamsburg GC). Williams and Leach were one of four sides to post an opening-round 66 to share the lead heading into Sunday's second and final round.
VSGA JGC members Brandon Sipe and Benjamin Baker finished alone in third at 9-under 133 (66-67). Two-time defending champions Xander Goboy (VSGA JGC) and Trey Marrion (Cypress Point CC) shared fourth at 8-under 134 with Miller Carr (Princess Anne CC) and Jack Teuschl (Army Navy CC); and GC at Lansdowne members Vaughn McMeans and Hayden Quinn.
Both of the top two sides got off to hot starts on Sunday. Williams and Leach birdied their first five holes to extend their first-round lead before running into trouble. They made bogey on No. 8 but recovered with a birdie on No. 9. Disaster hit at the par-5 11th when the side took a triple bogey, opening the door for Powell and Shim. The eventual winners shot 5-under on the front and 3-under on the back, their bogey-free round pushing them past the leaders.
Powell and Shim were runners-up in last year's event, finishing three strokes behind Goboy and Marrion.