WPGA JUNIOR
Hosking, Sharpee advance to Ohio event

Max Hosking shot one of the rounds of his life Tuesday in one of Wisconsin’s most important junior tournaments, but he still had trouble shaking Cody Strang.

Hosking, a resident of Madison and a Northern Illinois University recruit, won the overall boys title at the WPGA Junior Championship, held this week at Yahara Hills GC in Madison, thanks to a course-record 64 on the facility’s West Course. Coupled with his first-round 70 on Monday, Hosking shot 134 to earn a two-stroke win over Strang, who also lives in Madison.

Hosking, the reigning State Junior champion, shot 34 on the front nine, including a double bogey on No. 9. Then he shot a 6-under-par 30 on the back to beat the old course record of 65 by a single shot. The previous course record had stood since 1983. (The course record on Yahara Hills’ East Course is 63, recorded by current University of Wisconsin coach Jim Schuman back in 1984.)

Hosking won the title by two strokes over Strang, who shot 66-70–136. In third place overall was Michael Hesselman of Janesville who recorded rounds of 69-72–141.

Thanks to his overall boys victory, Hosking earned a much-coveted berth in the PGA Junior Championship in Ohio in August, an elite national junior tournament.

Joining Hosking in Ohio will be Erin Sharpee of Green Bay, who won the overall girls title after shooting 70-71–141, one stroke ahead of Lindsay Danielson of Osceola (72-70–142). Katie Tabbert of Onalska was third (72-71–143).

In addition to the overall boys and girls titles, several age divisions were also contested at Yahara Hills. Hosking won the 16-18 boys division, followed by Strang. Kyle Cook of Twin Lakes shot 73-73–146 to win the boys 13-15 division. Tied for second were Shawn Foley of Pewaukee (76-72–148) and Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon (75-73–148).

Sharpee won the 16-18 girls division, followed by Lindsay Danielson. In the girls 13-15 group, Casey Danielson of Osceola, Lindsay’s younger sister, shot 80-73–153 to emerge as the champion. In second place was Molly Baron of Milwaukee who shot 84-73–157.

The PGA Junior Championship is scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at the TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio.