ZION, Ill. – The Mid-American Junior Golf Tour’s Shepherd’s Crook Open concluded after a cancelled final round due to unplayable course conditions and forecasted weather. The first round scores determined the champions of this event. In the Boys Division, Scott Gajdel (2018) of Deerfield, Ill., finished atop the leaderboard while in the Girls Division, Margaret Hickey (2017) of Glencoe, Ill., took top honors.
The Shepherd’s Crook Open was originally scheduled to be a 36 hole, stroke play competition before being shortened to an 18 hole competition. The field was comprised of 100 junior golfers from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The Boys Division played the par 71 Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course from 6,700 yards, while the Girls Division played from 5,876 yards.
The MAJGT is designed for exceptionally talented junior golfers throughout the Midwest ages 12-18 and is nationally recognized by the Junior Golf Scoreboard and American Junior Golf Association with all of its events providing national exposure.
In the Boys Division, Gajdel carded a 2-over-par 73 in the first round to take a 2-stroke lead. He carded three birdies and nine pars en route to his victory. This was Gajdel’s first MAJGT win, his best finishing coming early this year at the Sanctuary Open where he finished T13.
Coming in runner-up, in a four-way tie after finishing the round with a 4-over-par 75 were: Kevin Nelson (2017) of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Cameron Karney (2018) of Crystal Lake, Ill.; Evan Myers (2019) of Northbrook, Ill.; and Levi Hanegraaf (2018) of Crete, Ill.
In the Girls Division, Hickey finished the event with a 3-over-par 74. She carded two birdies and 11 pars during the opening round. This was Hickey’s first MAJGT victory, her previous best finish was runner-up at the 2015 Classic at Meadowbrook.
Coming in runner-up, in a two-way tie with an 8-over-par 79 were Nicole Ciskowski (2019) of Lake Barrington, Ill., and Abby Cavaiani (2018) of Wales, Wis.
After a week off, the MAJGT heads to Fox Bend GC in Oswego, Ill., May 13-14, for the Fox Bend Open.
