Ava Bunker
Ava Bunker is still in contention to win the AJGA Circle K Junior Championship, but she will have a lot of work to do Thursday to make it happen.
The Edinburgh resident and homeschooled junior-to-be finished with a 4-over par 76 Wednesday and is tied for the fourth place heading into Thursday’s final round. Bunker opened with a 1-under 71 Tuesday and is 3-over for the tournament, hosted by Otter Creek.
Bunker is only two shots back of leaders Taylor Snively of Zionsville and Athena Singh of Morehead, Kentucky.
Starting on No. 10, Bunker scored two birdies and three bogeys on the first nine for a 37. She made seven straight pars to open the second nine, but then she ran into trouble on No. 8 and No. 9 to post double-bogey and bogey to post a 39 on the back.
“I really didn’t have that many bad shots except on the last two,” Bunker said. “I had a little bit of struggles. It’s OK because the rest of the round I played pretty good. I handled it pretty well, just a little upset about it, but I’ll bounce back tomorrow.”
Erin Hopkins
It was a much better day Wednesday for incoming Columbus North senior Erin Hopkins. Even though she didn’t card a birdie Wednesday, she played more consistent and finished with a 79.
Also starting on No. 10, Hopkins was 4-over in her first four holes, but settled in and went 3-over for the final 14 holes.
Hopkins gave credit to her turnaround to her swing coach and Otter Creek golf professional Andrew Weisheit.
“He helped me out (Tuesday) after my round with some little tweaks in my swing and boosted up my confidence with some kinds words, so I’m really thankful for that,” Hopkins said. “Overall, I felt a lot more comfortable today and and a little less tentative.”
Cameron Phillips of McDermott, Ohio, leads the boys tournament at 3-under. Grant Clapp of Prosper, Texas, and Brady Catalano of Upper Arlington, Ohio, are tied for second at 2-under.
Bunker will start Thursday’s final round at 8:40 a.m. off No. 1, while Hopkins tees off at 8:40 a.m. from No. 10.
