Dillon wins Jekyll Island Cup

JEKYLL?ISLAND, Ga. - Brooke Dillon, 10, of Prairieville, added another major tournament victory to a long resume of junior golf championships recently winning the US Kids Regional Championship. After a 2008 season that included two Junior World Championships wins (Pepsi Little People and the California Junior Tour World Championship) and 21 other tournament victories, Dillon won the invitation-only tournament that showcased the top US talent and included approximately 425 kids from ages 5-14 from all over the US and five foreign countries Feb.15-16.

Dillon started the first round out with a bogey on hole number ten. A dazzling short game helped to salvage a one over par score of 37 on day one and was good enough for a one stroke lead over Claire Hodges of Missouri and Abby Carlson of Illinois.

Dillon went into the final round understanding that both Hodges and Carlson had both won numerous major tournaments and it was going to take a great round to win the tournament.

Dillon went straight to work in spectacular fashion by hitting her approach shot on the par four 10th hole to three feet and calmly made the birdie putt on the opening hole. Dillon would again show off her short game by hitting her third shot on the par 5 11th hole to seven feet and again making the birdie putt.

Dillon hit 8 out of 9 greens including four approach shots inside of ten feet unlike the With both Hodges and Carlson playing their third shots from under a tree and not getting on the green Dillon hit her third shot from 109 yards out into a major wind to 8” from the hole and all but sealed the Championship with a tap in birdie. Dillon finished with a final round of 2 under par of 34 and a final 18 hole score of 1 under par 71 four shots better than runner up Hodges second place score of 75.