JUNIOR CLASSIC CROWNS ITS CHAMPS

JACKSON, Mo. -- With a state team championship already on his resume, Wes Richardet of Perryville, Mo., was seeking an individual title at the eighth-annual St. Francis Heartland Junior Golf Classic at Bent Creek Golf Course.

Competing in the 17-18 year-old division, Richardet, a junior on St. Vincent's 2001 Class 1A state champions, held a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the three-round event.

Richardet's two-round total of 157 led Jarred Green of Silva, Mo., at 159 and Kyle Christian of Dexter, Mo., at 160.

But Green, the Classic champion in the 15-16 division in 2000, again proved his tournament toughness with a final-round 76 in blustery wind conditions for a total of 235 to overtake Richardet, who fell to third place at 242 with an 85. Christian slipped into second place with an 81 for 241.

"It was fun," said a smiling Green, sparing words as he did strokes on the course.

Commenting on his final round, Richardet said, "I didn't play my best game today, but I gave a good run at it."

Nick Martin, a senior on Notre Dame's sixth-place 2A state team, carded a 77 to finish fifth with a 249.

Other local golfers entered were Nick Harter, a recent Cape Central graduate who represented the Tigers at the state meet, and Tim Buerck, who also played at Notre Dame. Harter posted an 84 for a 252 total, while Buerck had an 89 for 258.

In the 15-16 division, Kevin Wellington of St. Louis posted a 74 to break free of the pack and claim the championship.

Going into the final round, Wellington and Tyson Manering of Makanda, Ill., were tied at 154, while Steven Holtgrieve of St. Louis was a shot back at 155 with Zack Decker of Bloomsdale, Mo., and Doug Sheffer of Carbondale, Ill., two shots back at 156.

Andrew Frame of Manteno, Ill., entered the final round with a six-stroke lead and shot an even-par 72 to run away with the 13-14 boys division. Frame's total of 221 easily outdistanced second-place finisher Dong Jae Chung of Columbia, Mo., who finished at 233.

Also holding a six-stroke lead after the second round was Jace Long of Dixon, Mo. Long hung on with a 38 -- 11-12 year olds played only nine holes each day -- to edge Jordan Lewis of Marion, Ill., and Luke Guthrie of Quincy, Ill. Long's 106 total edged Lewis, who shot a 36 for 107, and Guthrie, who shot a blistering 34 for 108.

Asked if he felt the heat coming down the stretch, Long said, "Not really. I went into the last hole with a three-shot lead, but I bogeyed it and they birdied it."

The only two girl entrants were sisters Jessica and Sheena Collins of Edwardsville, Ill.

Jessica scored a 132 in the 11-12 division while Sheena had a 274 in the 13-14 group.

On the tournament, Mike Litzelfelner, tournament director and manager of host Bent Creek Golf Course, said, "It really exceeded our expectations. It ran smoothly from an organizational standpoint and the quality of play was great."