Hong, Thompson win stroke play titles at OGA Junior, match play under way

Juliana Hong birdied the 36th and final hole of stroke play for a one-shot victory over Norman North high school teammate Harlow Gregory as the Oklahoma Golf Association Junior Championship concluded its rain-delayed stroke play championship Wednesday morning at KickingBird Golf Course in Edmond.

Grady Thompson of Edmond, who was struggling at 2-over in his second round during windy conditions Tuesday, turned on the afterburners when play resumed in cool and damp conditions Wednesday morning. He bounced back to shoot even-par in the second round, finish at 6-under overall and win by two shots over Chase Blaser of Edmond (68-70), Hudson Hobbs of Ardmore (68-70) and Porter Hart of Broken Arrow (66-72).

The players jumped straight into match play with still hopes of playing two rounds today. Here is a link to the live scoring of match play and to all stroke play results.

The winner’s of the boys and girls open divisions receive exemptions in to the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls Junior championships respectively. The U.S. Junior is July 21-26 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas and the Girls Junior is July 14-19 at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Hong shot rounds of 71-69 for an even-par 140. Gregory shot 72-69 for a 1-over 141. Gregory finished first and Hong third in the Class 6A state championship at Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa the last time they met. They also teamed up to play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. There is a solid chance they will meet again in the finals of this event Thursday afternoon.

Heavy thunderstorms abbreviated the stroke play second round Tuesday with some players having as many as 10 holes to complete Wednesday while others were finished.