Cowan wins NEWS Junior golf playoff

BAR HARBOR – Adam Cowan of Madison won the 1991 Bangor Daily News Junior Golf Tournament on the first hole of a sudden death playoff, the first in the 22-year history of the tourney, here Monday at Kebo Valley Golf Club.

Despite being postponed a week due to heavy rains, a record 98 golfers between the ages of 10 and 17 competed in the tournament. This year’s total surpasses the previous record turnout of 94 last year.

Cowan was tied for first with fellow threesome member Mark King of Dixmont with a score of 75 on the par-70 course. After a sudden-death playoff was agreed upon, both golfers began the playoff on the first hole – a 388-yard par 4.

Both Cowan and King hit good, long shots off the tee to put them approximately the same general distance from the hole, but Cowan’s second shot settled 20-23 feet away from the hole on the green. King’s second shot left him to the right of the hole off the green.

King responded to his tough spot with a clutch chip onto the green about 15 feet from the hole. Cowan then putted his ball a foot from the hole and the pressure was on King.

King missed his 15-footer and putted out before Cowan stepped up and knocked in his putt for the championship.

“My chipping was the biggest thing for me today,” said Cowan, a 10 handicapper. “I put it up there within one-putt range almost every hole.”

Ironically, what had been the weakest part of his game on the first 18 holes – the second shot – turned out to be the shot that won the title for him in the playoff.

“My wedge game was a little off. I only hit three greens in regulation, I think, but getting up and down saved me,” Cowan, 17, explained.

Both Cowan and King managed to shoot their 75s without any birdies. Their consistent play was the big key.

Hot off his biggest tournament win ever, Cowan plans to spen Hot off his biggest tournament win ever, Cowan plans to spend the rest of his summer playing in various invitationals and his own club championship (at Lakewood Golf Course).

Despite a lot of rain over the weekend and last week, the course’s greens were still very fast and the fairways were dry and quick.

“The greens were fast,” said King. “They’d hold, but were still fast… really nice.”

King won Division 1 (age 17) because Cowan took the overall trophy and the overall winner cannot also win his division. Kendall Roy was second with an 81. David Welch of Saco and Michael Allan of Orrington were tied for third at 84.

The breezy, sometimes gusty conditions created some minor problems for golfers early on, but conditions overall were near-perfect – sunny, warm, and fairly dry conditions.

Justin Alfond, 16, of Dexter finished one stroke behind King and Cowan overall, but won the Division 2 (15-16) title. Cowan and Alfond were tied for second overall last year, four shots off the pace.

This was Alfond’s second year playing in Division 2. This will probably be his last time in the tournament as he and his family are moving to Boston before the school year begins in September.

Division 2 runnerup was James Gunsalus, 16, of Norway with an 82. Ben Morey, 16, of Milo was third (83).

Last year’s overall champion, Kevin MacDonald of Bath, was unable to defend his title this year because the rescheduled date conflicted with a tournament he was scheduled to play in at Michigan.

In Division 3 (13-14), Bryce Black, 14, of Rockland carded an 84 for first place. Shaun Webb, 13, of Stonington was second with an 87 and Tony Baker, 14, from Brewer was third (88).

In Division 4 (10-12), Ryan Day, 12, of Ellsworth won with an 88. Josh Herron, 10, from Belfast was second (95) and Jonathan Leino, 12, of Turner was third (99).