New Headline: Mile High Mavericks' Maverick Mastery: Miles Russell on Path to Golden Victory
Miles Russell became the first two-time winner of the Sage Valley Invitational, one of the nation's top junior golf tournaments.
Six months ago, Miles Russell became the first two-time Junior Players Champion in the 18-year history of the American Junior Golf Association, held every Labor Day weekend at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. On March 14, the 17-year-old Jacksonville Beach resident established another Miles-tone: he's the first two-time winner of the Sage Valley Invitational , one of the most prestigious junior invitationals in the nation that began in 2011 at the Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, S. C.
Russell shot a bogey-free 64 in the first round, then closed with a 67 that included two eagles, and at 15-under-par 273 won for the second year in a row by three shots over Tyler Watts of Huntsville, Ala. Mason Howell , the defending U. S.
Amateur champion, was third at 7-under 281. Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island (74 in the final round) tied for ninth at 2-under 286. Russell led through 18 and 36 holes but a third-round 72 left him three shots behind Watts and one behind Howell entering the final round.
But Russell regained the lead with an eagle at No. 4 and birdies at Nos. 8 and 10.