Savageau, Eckman Win at the Twin Cities Junior Championship

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  BLAINE, Minn. – Helped by three birdies during his final nine holes Tuesday, Peyton Savageau fired a 2-under 69 at Victory Links Golf Course to earn a one-stroke victory over Holdyn Evjen at the 28th Twin Cities Junior Championship.

Savageau entered the tournament coming off a second-place finish at the Class AA championship to close out his junior season at Totino-Grace High School.

Getting off to a shaky start Tuesday, Savageau carded bogey on his opening hole, but drew even by sinking his birdie chance at the par-4 sixth.

He would turn in 1-over following his second bogey of the front nine at the par-3 seventh.

Savageau dipped back into red figures with back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th holes, and one final birdie at the 16th would put him at 2-under and he would hang on to post a 69 for his first state championship win.

In the Boys’ 13-15 Division, Leo Vincelli survived a four-way playoff with a two-putt birdie on the second playoff hole after posting a 1-under 70 during regulation.

Vincelli tallied a colorful scorecard during his opening nine Tuesday by carding an eagle, two birdies and four bogeys to turn in even par.

He would then card four birdies against three bogeys to finish in a share of the lead with Ryder Carlson, Charlie Nielson and Torger Ohe at 1-under 71.

The Boys’ 12 and Under champion, Joseph Merabella, shot a 1-over par 33 to beat Weston Lee by a single stroke.

Jordan High School’s Morgan Eckman posted a 6-over 77 to win the Girls’ 16-18 Division, edging Apple Valley High School’s Avary Johnson by a single shot.

Eckman got off to a fast start with a birdie at the second, but would take bogey at four of her next six holes to turn in 3-over.

With three more bogeys over her final nine, Eckman finished on top of the leaderboard for her first state victory.

Reese Barry holed out for eagle on her final hole of the round to earn a six-stroke victory over Imagine Hines, shooting 7-over 78 in the Girls' 13-15 Division.

In the Girls’ 12 and Under Division, Havanna Smith won for the second consecutive year.