Max Jackson Captures 3rd Straight RI Boys Junior Amateur
Max Jackson captured his third straight Rhode Island Boys Junior Amateur title on Thursday afternoon at Ledgemont Country Club.
Jackson had a three-up lead with four to go, before High School State Champion Sebastian Carlsson stormed back to tie it on 18 and send it to extras.
“I was playing pretty good through 14 holes, but then just started making mistakes. Seb is a good player and he capitalized on it and just like that we were even. I started hitting some good shots in the playoff when they mattered so pretty happy,” said Jackson after the round.
Jackson birdied the second playoff hole to win his third straight title.
“I had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth after the High School State Championship. I didn’t really challenge Seb at all.
He played really good, five-under is tough to beat, so I really wanted to get this one and keep the four-in-a-row alive for this tournament,” Jackson added.
The only other player to win three-straight is Brad Valois.
Both Max and Sebastian will play in the Northern Junior Am on Monday, and the team Junior after that.
Carlsson says he is also playing the Rhode Island Open at Connecticut National.
The Match
Carlsson held a two-up lead on the sixth hole before Jackson made his run.
Jackson won seven, nine, ten, 11, and 13 to take a three-up lead.
But then things flipped the other way.
Off the tee, Jackson was finding himself in trouble and in many cases just had to punch out and it was nearly costly.
Carlson won the 15th hole, halved 16, and won 17 to put pressure on Jackson going to the 18th.
Both players blistered their drives into the middle of the fairway and Carlsson put his second shot on the green.
Jackson left his well short and then had chipping issues.
Carlsson cozied his putt down and the match went to extras.
On the first playoff hole (1st hole) Carlsson made an incredible up-and-down to save par and put pressure on Jackson.
Jackson made his three-footer to advance to the next hole.
On the second hole, both players had birdie putts.
Jackson’s was from above the hole and Carlsson’s was from below.
“Seb had an uphill right to lefter and as a righty, those are the putts you like, so I knew he was going to give it a good run. The putt I had was so fast, it was a left-to-righter and I didn’t really expect to make it, but it fell dead center and it ended up being enough,” said Jackson.
Carlsson’s uphill putt just missed, giving Jackson the win.
Boys 1st Division
Barrington’s AJ Colonna beat Swansea’s Adam Gorman 3&2.
Boys 14 & Under
Gavin Walsh defeated Michael Letendre 4&3.