Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
|
|
 |
|
|
| Carlisle classmates Adkins and Jensen to square off in state semifinals today |
Carlisle classmates and best friends Jack Adkins (left) and Dylan Jensen will square off today in the 19th VSGA Junior Match Play Championship at Roanoke Country Club. The winner will play this afternoon for the state title. (Bulletin photos by Johnny Buck) |
| More Photos |
Friday, June 19, 2009
By JOHNNY BUCK - Bulletin Sports Editor
What are the odds of two best friends from the Martinsville area facing off in the final four of a state-wide golf tournament?
Probably not very good, but then again, Jack Adkins and Dylan Jensen do have a history of battling for bragging rights on a regular basis.
The Carlisle classmates will square off over 18 holes today at the 19th VSGA Junior Match Play Championship at Roanoke Country Club, with the winner earning a spot in the state championship this afternoon.
Once Jensen returned to the clubhouse Thursday after 36 holes of winning golf and saw the pairing, all he could do was chuckle.
“I kind of laughed,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘It figures that we would play each other.’ When we first made it (past the qualifying rounds), we kind of joked that it would be funny if we played each other, and it turns out that we are.”
Just one week ago, Adkins and Jensen toured Chatmoss Country Club together in the final round of the Martinsville/Henry County Junior Golf Tournament. Jensen wound up in first place, Adkins in second.
Despite playing 72 holes over four days, the duo was separated by just four strokes.
“We’ve done this a thousand times,” said Adkins. “This one’s got a little bit more on the line, but we’ll still have the same amount of fun. We’ll still enjoy it.”
Both played solid golf to get here.
After two days of qualifying, Jensen, the No. 12 seed, beat fifth-seed Michael Swope, of Richmond, early Thursday 6-and-5.
Following a brief break, he returned to the links and topped No. 4 seed Jack Wilkes, of Roanoke, with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
“In the first (match), my game plan was to make a lot of pars and to make him try for birdies,” said Jensen. “The pars ended up getting me holes. I was three-up after five.
“My game plan kind of changed when I played against Jack (Wilkes). ... I know he can make birdies, so I was more aggressive.”
Trailing by two following the 10th hole, Jensen had birdies on Nos. 12 and 16 to even things. Both golfers parred out from there, allowing Jensen the chance to hit driver, gap wedge to within 8 feet of the pin on the par-4 first hole.
He sank the putt, and when Wilkes’ 30-foot attempt went just past the hole, Jensen had beaten the 2008 finalist.
“I scrambled really well,” said Jensen. “I hit it in the trees a lot but ended up making pars, and I putted really well, too. I guess you could say my short game was on today.”
In the first match, Adkins, seeded ninth, beat No. 8 Landon Weis, of Charlottesville, on the first playoff hole.
“I was three-up early. He kind of went through a rocky start, and then he started playing better and caught me at 11,” said Adkins.
The two went back and forth over the final seven holes, but Adkins’ par on the first playoff hole proved to be the difference.
He then beat No. 16 Ben Firebaugh, of Roanoke, 4-and-3 in the quarters.
“I’m hitting the ball well, making a few putts. I can’t complain right now,” said Adkins. “I got a little rest from a busy week last week and kind of got my game back in shape.”
While Adkins didn’t see a big difference between stroke-play and match-play formats — “I don’t really have a preference, it’s still pretty much the same game,” he said — he does appreciate the one-hole-at-a-time approach.
“You can beat somebody better than you. It just happens, ’cause you’re not playing the field, you’re just playing one person. So it’s a cool format,” he said. “It’s probably a little less pressure on tougher holes, because you don’t have to worry about making a big number or anything. It’s just one hole.”
No golfer from the area had ever made the finals in the history of this 18-year-old event, but that’s going to change when the friends tee off at 7:30 a.m. today.
Regardless of which Chief advances, Jensen was pleased with the pairing, while at the same time recognizing the stakes involved.
“If he makes it, I’ll be happy for him, and if I make it, I know he’ll happy for me,” said Jensen. “If he makes it, I’ll probably caddie for him. It would mean a lot to make the finals of state match play.”
Adkins agreed, while also pointing out that at 17 years old, he doesn’t have much time remaining on the juniors circuit.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” he said. “It could be my first time winning the tournament. Since I’m a junior, I don’t have many more years left. I’d definitely like to have my name on the trophy.”
Then again, so would Jensen.
|
| |
|
|
.jpg)
