©2009 NPT FILE PHOTO BY PAUL MEADOR

Cocke County High School rising junior Lexi Clevenger ran away with 'The Bonnie,' Knoxville's premier girl's
junior golf tournament.

NEWPORT-In last week's TGA Junior Tour update, we goofed! Actually, the TGA goofed in reporting the final results from the July 1 event at Cattails at Meadowview Golf Club in Kingsport.

It was initially reported that Newport's Cassidy Gibson finished third in the Girl's 12-14 Masters Division, but we couldn't have been more wrong. In fact, Gibson, a rising Cocke County High School freshman, won the event with an impressive 82.

Now on to this week's report, and some great news for three Cocke County ladies. Tanasi Golf Course played host to 'The Bonnie,' Knoxville's top junior girl's tournament, on June 29 and 30. And, when the final shots had been made, Newport's Cassidy Gibson came away with first-place honors in the Girl's 12-14 Masters division. Gibson shot 83 and 80 for a two-day total of 163. And in the Girl's 15-18 Masters division, Cocke County High School rising junior Lexi Clevenger demolished a star-studded field taking home first-place honors with a 75 and 81 for a two-day total of 156. Newport's Whitney Ball finished with an 80 and 85 for a two-day total of 165, good for fourth place. Ball, who graduated this past May from Cocke County High School, will be playing at the next level this fall at Lincoln Memorial University. Jefferson County High School standout Lauren Hodge finished in a tie for second with Peyton Ritchie. Both ladies finished on 163, seven shots behind Clevenger.

'The Bonnie' is an annual tournament for junior girls 12-18 years of age. The tournament is named after Bonnie Blackburn (1917-2004), who was an avid golfer for over half a century. Blackburn's enthusiasm and passion for the sport was known throughout Tennessee, particularly in the Knoxville area where she resided. She was involved not only with the Tennessee Golf Association, but Knoxville Area Women's Golf and an avid follower of NCAA Women's golf, always rooting on the Lady Vols. Blackburn competed in numerous local, state and Southern Women's Amateur events.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Girl's Junior Championship was played at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville July 6-8. Newport's Lexi Clevenger finished in 32nd in the event. Clevenger shot 89, 82 and 80 for a three-day total of 251 against Tennessee's top female junior amateurs.

With consistent play and steadily improving his scores over each day, Jordan Jennings of Jefferson City was able to capture the 2009 Tennessee Boy's Junior Amateur Championship held at Champions Run Golf Course in Rockvale. Jennings was able to control his game on yet another windy day, as he fired a 2 under par round of 70 to finish the championship at a total of 2 under par 214. Jennings was able to catch the leaders on the back nine when he closed with an inward nine of 33. Over the three days Jennings only made 6 bogeys and one double bogey that were offset by 10 birdies proving that consistent play pays off. Jefferson County High School teammate Logan Hance finished tied for 12th on 227 while Newport's Zach Briggs finished tied for 30th on 234.

The TGA Junior Tour made a two-day stop at Willow Creek Golf Club in Knoxville this past Monday and Tuesday, July 6-7. In Boy's 16-18 Masters division play, Newport's Jake Shelton finished third (72, 72) on 144, while Newport's Zach Briggs finished seventh (73, 74) on 147 and Newport's Chase Atkins finished tied for 12th (76, 77) on 153. In the Boy's 14-15 Masters division, Newport's Jacob Quinton finished tied for 10th (77, 77) on 154.

On Friday, July 10, the tour made a one-day stop at Beverly Park Junior Golf Course in Knoxville. In Girl's 8-11 Micro division play, Newport's Alayna Perryman finished fifth on 51.