Girls / Boys Winners Take Different Roads at 32nd Scott Robertson Memorial

Emilia Magliaccio leaves the 16th green on Sunday after her birdie putt gave her a lead she wouldn't relinquish on the way to a two-shot victory in the girls 15-18 division.
Emilia Migliaccio leaves the 16th green on Sunday after her birdie putt gave her a lead she wouldn’t relinquish on the way to a two-shot victory in the girls 15-18 division.

Migliaccio

It was contrasting paths for the girls and boys senior division winners Sunday afternoon at the 32nd annual Scott Robertson Memorial Junior Golf Tournament played at Roanoke Country Club.

For Cary, North Carolina native Emlia Migliaccio, the girls 15-18 winner, it was a late charge that overtook second round leader Shannon Brooks in what turned out to be a three hole shootout.

On the boys 14-18 side it was more of a walk in the park for champ Austin Eckroat after the 16-year-old scorched RCC over three days that produced a 16-under, three-round total of 197, besting the previous tournament record by 4 shots.

For Migliaccio, it was a satisfying conclusion to what had been a steady chase of Brooks after Brooks had opened the tournament with a first-round 63.

“I finished really well and that made it great,” Migliaccio said outside the scoring tent after signing her clutch minus-5 round that gave her a two-shot victory over Brooks. “Everything came together.”

Migliaccio had overtaken Brooks on the inward nine on Sunday before Brooks got even on the par-4 15th by sinking a long birdie putt to put both golfers at minus-9 with three holes to play.

“When Shannon made that putt it sorta turned it into a three hole match play,” Migliaccio noted. “I definitely was feeling the pressure.”

The 16-year-old Migliaccio, who has committed to play at Wake Forest, was up to the challenge.

She rolled in a curling 9-footer on the par-4 16th to go up by one, then covered the flagstick at the par-4 17th that resulted in a 2-foot birdie putt for a two-shot lead heading to the uphill par-3 finishing hole on the RCC Crabapple nine.

“I hit a pitching wedge on 17 and that was the winning shot,” Migliaccio said. “I knew I was in great shape with a two shot lead, especially when I hit it on the green with my tee shot at 18.”

Boys 15-18 champion Austin Eckroat blasts from the bunker at the par-4 18th on Sunday     on his way to a five-shot win in the 32nd Scott Robertson Junior Golf Tournament.
Boys 15-18 champion Austin Eckroat blasts from the bunker at the par-4 18th on Sunday
on his way to a five-shot win in the 32nd Scott Robertson Junior Golf Tournament.

Eckroat, on the other hand, was in complete control in the boys’ competition. He opened the day with a six shot lead and only had a minor run from second-place finisher Mason Greenberg who finished 5 shots back.

“I got a little nervous when Mason had a putt to get within 3 shots,” Eckroat admitted after his closing round five-under-par 66. “But, he missed and I made four straight birdies. That was a good feeling.”

Eckroat’s 3-day assault on RCC included 23 birdies in 54 holes of play.

“It seemed like all my putts were dropping,” Eckroat said. “I’ve never made that many birdies in a three-round tournament. This course sets up great for me.”

One thing Migliaccio and Eckroat had in common Sunday was both decidedly saying they would be back in 2016.

“I’ll definitely be back,” Migliaccio said with a huge grin. “This tournament is so much fun and run so well.”

In the girls 14-under division, Madeline Jin took the title with a 3-round 227 total, good for a three-shot victory. Akshay Bhatia won the boys 14-under championship with a final round 74, good for a three-shot margin over Jack Wall.

Bill Turner

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