27th Junior Tournament of Champions

Brunn, Gill crowned champions at Huntsville

The 27th Junior Tournament of Champions turned into a one-day sprint after storms washed out Tuesday’s round at Fox Hill Country Club.

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With the event shortened to 18 holes at Huntsville Golf Club (par 72, 6366 yards) Wednesday, Arden Brunn of Wyoming Valley Country Club made the most of her last chance for a victory as a junior golfer. The Towson University freshman played steady golf and captured the Founders Cup, carding a round of 5-over-par 77.

“It’s really special just knowing that it was my last year to do it,” Brunn, 18, of Hanover Township, Pa., said. “Last year, I came up three shots short. So just to come back this year and get it done, it feels nice.”

Lyla Jones of Pocono Farms Country Club carded a 14-over-par 86 to finish runner-up.

Brunn entered the day with experience at Huntsville from high school matches. That comfort showed early. She birdied No. 1 (par 5, 359 yards), with a bump-and-run from 25 yards for a tap-in birdie putt. Brunn added another birdie on No. 17 (par 3, 118 yards) with a chip-in from 20 yards that gave her late momentum. Brunn played simple golf, hitting fairways and finding greens. 

“My driver was very good today,” Brunn said. “I was in pretty much every fairway, and it set me up for an easy approach shot to the green.”

The second nine was much tougher for Brunn, but she stayed patient and avoided the mistakes she made last year, when she carded a 6-over-par 79 to finish runner-up. 

The win adds to a strong summer from Brunn, who claimed club championship victories at Elkview Country Club and Wyoming Valley and owns a Class 2A district title.

It was a good day for Holy Redeemer High School as Brunn’s former high school teammate Liam Gill captured the Boys’ Division.

“If there was anyone I was rooting for on the guys’ side, it was definitely Liam,” Brunn said. “I’m really happy both of us could get a win.”

For Gill, adding the Art Wall, Jr. Trophy to his closet meant more than just another piece of hardware. It meant adding his name alongside past champions he has admired and proving how far his game has come in the last year. 

“It felt great to get this win,” Gill, 15, of Swoyersville, Pa., said. “There are a lot of good names on this trophy, like Brandon Matthews. I’ve played with him a couple times, and then Mariano Medico, who went to the same high school as me. There are a lot of good names on there.”

Sebastian Meyer of the Country Club of Scranton finished runner-up with a 4-over-par 76.

Gill’s round was anything but flashy. He recorded one birdie and two bogeys, relying on consistent pars to separate himself from the field.

After bogeys on Nos. 11 (par 4, 404 yards) and 12 (par 5, 503 yards) briefly stalled his momentum, the Fox Hill member settled down over the closing stretch, parring the last six holes.

“I was frustrated after three-putting on 12,” Gill said. “Then I got to 13, hit a good drive, calmed down from there and just kept trying to hit greens and two-putt.”

His lone birdie came on No. 9 (par 5, 497 yards) after what he thought was a wayward tee shot ended up in the fairway; he hit a 7-iron from 180 yards to 30 feet, where he two-putted for a birdie.

The victory adds to an impressive summer for the Holy Redeemer sophomore. Gill won the 24th GAP/AGA Stroke Play Championship at Huntsville, the Fox Hill junior club championship, reached the Round of 16 in the Junior Boys’ Championship and teamed with his grandfather to win the 80th John A. Allan Championship at Fox Hill. He credits his success to playing smart golf.

“I’ve been hitting the ball a lot better this year,” Gill said. “I’m hitting it more consistently and keeping the ball in play, which is big. Around the greens, my short game has gotten a lot better, and I’ve been able to make a lot more putts this year.”

The day became even more memorable when he found out that Brunn won the Girls’ Division.

“It was cool to see,” Gill said. “Two Redeemer kids were able to get it done today.”

The Junior Tournament of Champions is the culmination of the Lawler Junior Tour season.

The Lawler Junior Tour, sponsored by Barna Law and Community Bank, began in 1983. It is open to boys and girls 10 to 18 years of age. Its namesake, Bill Lawler, administered each event throughout the tour’s formative years. A former Anthracite Golf Association president, Lawler died on July 19, 2021 at the age of 73.

“Junior golf meant a lot to him,” Patrick Lloyd, GAP Director of Northeast Operations, said. “He would mentor the kids, talk about the rules and etiquette. He was one of the most influential people in our area. He not only was a good player, but instrumental in growing the game.”

The Lawler Junior Tour carries the legacy of its namesake.

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