By Gary Curreri

The Crockett Foundation Pompano kicked off its fall 2019 First Tee program recently at the Pompano Beach Golf Course.

The nine week program, which has been in partnership with The First Tee of Broward County for three years, focuses on the nine core values that are connected with the game of golf and carries over to home life. Those values are courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. 

The coaches for the program are TJ Ziol and Darrell Welker, and they are helped by volunteers Alan Freedman, Valerie Bertuccelli and Ashton Mahfood.

The Crockett Foundation, a Broward County-based non-profit organization, has positively impacted the lives of thousands of children since its inception in 2002. Its after-school programs focus on math, reading, health and technology for middle-school students.

“The Crockett Foundation has helped more than 1,000 students in our local community graduate from high school with better grades and a more positive outlook on life,” said Jack Bloomfield, Director of Operations for the First Tee of Broward.  

The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Through after-school and in-school programs, it helps shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect, and perseverance through the game of golf.

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association results

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held several events recently. Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a One Best Ball of Threesome and Two Best Balls on Holes No. 1 and No. 18 on Oct. 2 at the Pines Course.

The winning team was composed of Neil Lang, Dennis Sejda and Pete Strychowskyj, who shot a 60. The team of Dave Dowling, Jim Muschany and Tom Pawelczyk finished second with a 63 and won on a match of cards.

Finishing in third was the team of Chuck Brown, Lance Naiman and Willie Smith, who also shot a 63, while the team of Bill Delaney, Al Holcomb and Kevin Narus was fourth with a 64 and also won on a match of cards. Winning the closest to the pin contest was Charles Schaeffer.

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a Two Best Balls of a Threesome event on Sept. 25 on the Palms Course.

Al DiBenedetto, Jim Greeley and Tom Pawelczyk shot a 122 to take top honors, while Dave Dowling, Gary Gill and Joe Patchen shot a 125 to finish second. Taking third was the team of Jorge Duarte, Lance Naiman and Willie Smith with a 128.

Dennis Sejda won the Closest to the Pin on Hole No. 11.

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a One Best Ball of a Threesome and Two Best Balls in the Middle, No. 9 and 10 event on Sept. 18 on the Palms Course.

Taking top honors was Jim Blake, Tom Breur and Gary Ruderman, who carded a 63, while Dave Dowling, Jim Muschany and Dennis Sejda shot a 64 to finish second. Gary Gill, Joe Patchen and Willie Smith shot a 65 and won on a match of cards to finish third.

The winner of the closest to the pin competition on hole No. 7 was Gary Gill.

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach senior quarterback Michael Pratt threw for a season-best 331 yds. and four touchdowns as the host Bucks toppled Boca Raton 49-6 in the District 12-8A opener for both teams on Friday night. 

Pratt, a Tulane University commit who transferred from Boca Raton High School to Deerfield in August, made his fourth straight start and guided the Bucks to a fourth straight victory.

He has seen his touchdown totals in each game go up by one. He threw for one score in his first, then two, then three and four against his former school. He has 10 TDs on the season.

“We just have to get better every single week,” said Pratt, whose team has a bye this week before facing Spanish River. “My timing with the receivers, connection and chemistry is starting to build up. Our offensive line…I am starting to learn them and they are starting to learn me.”

Deerfield Beach (4-2, 1-0 in the district) took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yds. in three plays, capped by a 40-yd. scoring run by FSU commit Jaylan Knighton. He carried all three times in the drive for 80 yds. Knighton finished the game with seven rushes for 100 yds. and one score.

Boca Raton (2-3, 0-1) cut the lead to 7-6 on a 20-yd. scoring toss from Andrew Caverty to Ashton Gillotte with 4:02 left in the first half. The extra point attempt by Thomas Lofiago was blocked and later also had a 37-yd. field goal attempt blocked.

The score snapped a three-game shutout streak by the Bucks in their last three wins – as they defeated Blanche Ely, 46-0, Zachary (LA), 53-0 and Oak Ridge (Orlando), 42-0 – and outscored the opposition 141-0 during the span.

Deerfield Beach broke the game open in the second quarter when Pratt hit Maryland commit Deajaun McDougle for an 83-yd. catch and run for a 14-6 advantage and then 21-6 on a 64-yd. interception return by Phillip O’Brien. Deerfield Beach made it 28-6 on a 20-yd. scoring toss from Pratt to University of Miami commit Xavier Restrepo.

Pratt connected with Deajaun McDougle two more times in the third quarter from 51 yds. and 60 yds. for a 42-6 lead. It was his 10^th scoring touchdown pass in four games. McDougle had 226 yds. receiving on five catches and three TDs.

Back-up quarterback Marquise Pierre hit Jamarion McDougle on a 45-yd. TD score in the fourth for a 49-6 Bucks lead. It marked just the fifth time in Deerfield Beach history where they have scored 40 or more points in four straight games.

Pratt missed the first two games of the season, losses to Carol City, 24-12, and St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), 52-20, with a groin injury. Pratt threw for 1,208 yds. and 12 TDs at Boca Raton last season. He also ran for 447 yds. and three scores for the Bobcats.

Deerfield Beach coach Jevon Glenn said Pratt handled the week going against his former teammates well.

“He has a steadiness about him and is a little ahead of his time,” Glenn said. “To be quite honest, if he plays the first two games, we would be undefeated and top-10 in the country right now.”

Last season, Deerfield Beach fell in the state semifinals of the Class 8A tournament as they lost 49-21 to the eventual state champion, Miami Columbus, and finished 12-2. Deerfield lost in the regional quarterfinal the season before and lost in the state semifinals in 2016 to the eventual state champion, Southridge, 26-7 in 2016.

“it’s been a great opportunity to learn a few new things,” Pratt added. “I have to make better reads and work on timing.”

By Gary Curreri

In the beginning, Julia Vulpio wasn’t a big fan of tennis.

“At first, I didn’t like it,” said Vulpio, 18, of Pompano Beach. “I wanted to play with dolls and do normal kid’s stuff.”

She got her start when her father saw a poster of Argentinian tennis pro Guillermo Vilas on the floor for his academy and they went.

“It was closed for the year and my dad said since we are here, let’s play,” said Vulpio, who was age 4 at the time. She continued to play recreationally until age 9 when she had a breakthrough.

“I saw Rafa Nadal play at the French Open, and I said, ‘wow, I really want to play now,’” Vulpio recalled. “I love the competition. I like everything. I like the fighting. It is definitely mental, a lot of it.”

She cited her strengths as a backhand crosscourt, her slice serve and a topspin forehand.

Vulpio recently scored a 6-4, 7-5 win over Boca Raton’s Nina Gulbransen in the finals of the Women’s Open Division in the Delray Cup – Prize Money Open, Age Category and NTRP Championships at ProWorld Tennis Academy in Delray Beach. Not bad considering she hadn’t played in a tournament in a couple of months and had just been training.

“I just decided to go back and play a few tournaments,” said Vulpio, a Quinnipiac University commit. She is currently homeschooling to prepare. She has also been training at ProWorld for almost two years. She was a former No. 1 in France for girls 16s and was ranked No. 900 at WTA at age 17.

“It was a good match to start back,” she said. “Winning the tournament gives you confidence for sure, especially since it is my first tournament in a while.”

The tournament also featured Men’s Open singles, Men’s Open doubles, Women’s 3.5 NTRP singles and Men’s 4.0 and 4.5 singles play. There were 81 players in the event and in addition to players from Florida, there were also competitors from CA, TX, NJ , NY, MI, and PR.

“The tournament had about 80 players – 70 in the Open and 11 in the NTRP,” Tournament Director Lew Wolfe said.

Bucks win third straight game

After opening the season with two straight losses on the road, the Deerfield Beach High School football team have regained their winning ways with a third consecutive shutout following a 42-0 win over Oak Ridge (Orlando) at home on Friday night.

Senior quarterback Michael Pratt tossed three touchdown passes, while senior running back Jaylan Knighton topped the century mark rushing and added two touchdowns for the Bucks, who have defeated Blanche Ely (42-0), Zachary (La.) 52-0 and Oakridge in the team’s home opener.

Pratt, a Tulane University commit who transferred to Deerfield Beach from nearby Boca Raton in early August, will face his former team on Friday when the Bucks take on the Bobcats at home.

Pratt connected with Aydin Henningham, Xavier Restrepo and Jaziun Patterson for TD passes and Knighton, a Florida State commit, totaled 101 yards on the ground and scored twice.

By Gary Curreri

Sophomore Danny Bobes provided the lift host Pompano Beach needed in rallying from an early 10-0 first quarter deficit and snapped a 16-game losing skid dating back to 2017 with a 20-10 win over Miami Country Day last Friday.

Bobes finished the game with 17 carries for 132 yards and one TD on offense to go along with five tackles and a sack on defense. He also recovered an onside kick for the Golden Tornadoes whose last victory was a 19-8 win over Pembroke Pines Charter on Sept. 28, 2017. They finished 1-9 that year and 0-10 last season. The team dropped the first two games this season as well.

Pompano Beach sophomore quarterback Nico Diaz was efficient as he completed eight of 10 passes for 150 yds. with a TD pass and two-point conversion. He also rushed for a TD. 

Senior wide receiver Hunter Kalman added three receptions for 112 Yds. and a TD and a two-point conversion, while junior defensive lineman Diego Orrelana had 10 tackles, including four tackles for losses and a sack. 

“We fell behind 10-0 after the first quarter, but we rallied together and overcame that to win,” said Pompano Beach coach Johnathan Firth. “My guys are still learning how to win and that showed early as we had a bunch of first quarter mistakes shooting ourselves in the foot.

“However, we stuck to the game plan and cleaned up the penalties and mistakes, which allowed our talent to shine,” Firth added. “I think fighting our way back to win like this can be a turning point for us. This was also huge for our seniors who haven’t won in over a year. Now that they know what it feels like, they will be hungry to get this feeling back.”

Pompano Beach will travel to Northeast High School to play tonight (Thursday, Sept. 19) at 7 p.m.

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held an individual play (Low Gross and Low Net in classes) on Sept. 11 at the Pines Course.

Gary Gil carded an 83 to win the Low Gross title in the Class A Division on a match of cards. Winning the Low Net championship was Bill Hadersbeck who shot a 65 to win by two shots over Fred Joy. Chuck Brown was third with a 68.

In the Class B Division, Mike Marruquin won the Low Gross title on a match of cards after he shot an 82.

Jim Greeley won the Low Net title for the division with a 62 and defeated Oscar Aleman who shot a 65 and Tom Breur who shot a 66 and won on a match of cards.

 Jack Permenter fired an 85 to take first place in the Low Gross competition for the Class C Division. Willie Smith recorded a 60 to take first in the Low Net for the division. Dave Dowling, who shot a 64, and Neil Lang, who shot a 65, finished second and third respectively.   

Oscar Aleman won the closest to the pin hole No. 3.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach High School football coach Johnathan Firth has taken strides in rebuilding the program. While the scores of their first two games aren’t indicative of the progress being made, Firth believes they are on the right track.

The Golden Tornadoes dropped its opener 32-8 to Hollywood Hills and followed that up with a 55-0 loss to Monarch. It was Pompano Beach’s 16^th straight loss dating back to 2017. The team’s last victory was a 19-8 win over Pembroke Pines Charter on Sept. 28, 2017. They finished 1-9 that year and 0-10 last season.

“The intensity is back at school and we have a few playmakers,” said Firth, who returned to coaching this season. “We have Danny Bobes, who I think is right there with the best in the state. It is a good tough squad.

“We are trying to bring leadership and bringing attitude back to the program,” he added. “We just want them to stick it out through the adversity. People leave the program after a couple of bad games or after a bad year. They should stick through it when they are young and, when they are a junior or a senior, you are right with everyone else.”

Monarch’s Peter Zamora threw five first half touchdowns last Friday night to carry the Knights past Pompano Beach. Zamora pledged $25 for every TD he threw to help the Hurricane Dorian victims in the Bahamas. Pompano Beach also helped the Hurricane victims with a collection bin set up near the concession area.

High-powered Monarch entered the game having outscored the opposition 80-8 with a 45-8 win over Nova and Piper 35-0.

Firth said battling through adversity will help shape the players’ lives as they get older. He said some adjectives to describe the team would be their toughness and their fight.

“It definitely builds character,” Firth said. “We have a lot of guys here when I took over. I hit up the other sports and the ROTC and they are all out here. They ended the season with 18 kids last year, and we have 43 this year. They are working, and we are trying to get them ready to play.”

Firth said he “recruited the halls” and doubled the roster.

The Tornadoes won their spring jamboree game to prepare for the season by topping Village Academy.

“That definitely took their confidence to the next level and now they believe,” Firth said. “I think we will have a successful season by the end of this year.”

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a 3-man scramble event on Aug. 28 at the Pines Course.

The team of Jerry DeSapio and Bill Hazlett took top honors with a 66 by using alternating shots. The team of Chuck Brown, Jim DeCicco and Jim Foster was second with a 67, while Len Ackley, Neil Lang and Lance Naiman took third with a match of cards after carding a 68. Gary Gill, Jim Muschany and Gene Stoller finished fourth with a 68.    

The winner of the closest to the pin for hole No. 17 was Lance Naiman.

By Gary Curreri

Three of the Pompano Eagles teams have winning records in the American Youth Football League after three weeks.

The 10-Under squad has a perfect, 3-0, record, while both the 9-Under and 12-Under teams are both 2-1. The 7-Under, 8-Under and 11-Under teams are all 1-2 and the 13-Under team is still chasing its first win at 0-3.

Khambrel Simpkins has been with the city for nine years and been with the Pompano Eagles for the past six years. He said they have just over 200 players and 75 cheerleaders.

“We had about a 10 percent increase over last year,” Simpkins said. “We are building on the consistency with the coaches and the staff. We are just staying humble and just staying at it.

“We have a good solid foundation throughout the park with the coaches we put in place,” he added. “We just want to build on that each year.”

The Pompano Eagles have a storied history in the city of Pompano Beach having produced All Pro NFL stars like Corey Simon, Jabari Price of the Minnesota Vikings, Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals and Lamar Jackson, who got his start at the program.

Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award and was a unanimous All-American as a sophomore in 2016 while at the University of Louisville. The 22-year-old was the 32^ndoverall draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 draft.

“We have noticed that a lot of kids have been excelling and going on to play in D-1 schools,” Simpkins said. “They are also going to the NFL. We have a hotbed for talent here in Pompano. It is our job to build on the talent that those kids got, so they can get where they want to get.”

The Pompano Eagles produced the Super Bowl Champions Junior Mighty Mite and Senior Mighty Mite Teams in 2017 in the Pop Warner League and hope to send teams to the AYFL Super Bowl in 2019.

In 2018, the Pompano Eagles program entered its first year in the highly competitive 12-team AYFL. Although it was the program’s first year in the league, their teams battled in the trenches all season and sent five of seven teams to the 2018 playoffs.

The 9-Under team coached by Billy Clancy II and the 8-Under team led by Coach Josh Wilson came within overtime periods to taking each of their teams to the Super Bowl. Simpkins believes those two teams are not only Super Bowl contenders, but could reach the national tournament.”

“I think football is humongous to these kids,” Simpkins said. “It is a good extracurricular activity for them. For the kids to come out here and enjoy it…they have fun and they are doing something that they love.”

“This is our second year in the AYFL,” Simpkins added. “We have a family philosophy. As long as they have that attitude and they have fun, they will give it their all. That is the best feeling they can have.” 

Pompano will play at Plantation this weekend, weather permitting.

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association results

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a one best ball of a threesome, and two best balls on the corners (holes #1, 9, 10 and 18), on the Pines course on Aug. 21.

The team of Jim DeCicco, Kevin Narus and Dennis Sejda shot a 72 and won on a match of cards over the runner-up team of Al Holcomb, Neil Lang and Roy Wilhoite. Finishing in third place and also winning on a match of cards was the team of Jim Blake, Jorge Duarte and Mark Intregila, They shot a 74.

The winner of the closest to the pin contest on hole No. 15 was Tom Breur.

By Gary Curreri

The Deerfield Beach High School football team dug itself an early hole and was unable to get out of it as the Bucks dropped the ESPNU nationally televised game against Miami Carol City at Traz Powell Stadium last Saturday.

“We’re just not playing really good football,” said Deerfield coach Jevon Glenn following his team’s 24-12 loss. “Not coaching really good football, the players aren’t playing really good football.” 

“I don’t know if we’re reading press clippings,” he continued. “We’re not a really good football team. We’re not a state-championship contender, we’re not a district-championship contender at this moment. The thing is: It’s a long season ahead of us. We can be a championship team once we get on the same page.”

The Chiefs defense held Deerfield Beach’s offense in check in jumping out to an 18-0 halftime cushion and 24-0 lead before the Bucks scored twice in the final quarter to draw close.

Deerfield Beach’s top offensive weapon, running back Jaylan Knighton rushed for only 19 yds. in the first half and finished the game with 48 yds. on 14 carries. He ran for 2,099 yds. last season as the Bucks reached the state semifinals. Quarterback Derohn King went 3 for 12 in the first half and ended the contest completing 15 of 32 passes for 259 passing yards.

The Bucks’ Phillip O’Brien recovered a bad snap in the end zone with 4:22 left to get the Bucks on the board and King added a 7-yd. scoring run on the next possession.

The Bucks had their chances with the ball inside the Chiefs’ 20-yd. line five times and only scored once. Two of the drives stalled, one resulted in a missed field goal and one ended with a turnover on a fumble.

“We were shooting ourselves in the foot,” Glenn said. “It was just a lack of execution.”

Knighton believes the team can rebound and contend for a championship.

“Me and the leaders, Bryce (Gowdy) and Deajaun (McDougle), are focusing on getting the team ready,” he said. “We don’t want to settle for making mistakes.

We work every day to minimize the mistakes. We try and motivate the team to not think about it and just go on to the next phase, and they are doing great with it.

“We don’t focus on the past,” he added. “We don’t dwell on it. We are ready and we aren’t too worried about the past. We are ready to crank. You have to be humble and work every day because it is a grind. At then, at the end of the day, if you put your mind to it, you can get it done. One thing about this team is we work hard every day, and we don’t take no days off.”

Deerfield travels to Washington, D.C., to play the nation’s fourth-ranked team in St. John’s this Saturday. St. John’s opened their season with a 48-0 win over Miami Southridge.

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association results

Frank Cutrone carded a 78 to take first place in the Low Gross competition for Class A in the Individual Play (Low Gross and Low Net in classes) in the Palm Beach Men’s Golf Association at the Pines Course. Bill Hadersbeck shot 63 to win Low Net honors in Class A, while Dennis Sejda was one shot back with a 64.

In the Class B competition, Tom Breur shot 81 to win the Low Gross honor. Jim Foster shot a 64 to win the Low Net, while Jim Greeley was second with a 66.

Jim DeCicco carded an 89 to take first place in the Low Gross competition for Class C. Lee Hammer shot 61 to take first place in Low Net. Robert Raser was second in the Low Net with a 64.

Bill O’Brien won the closest to the pin competition on hole No. 7.

By Gary Curreri

Michael Hutchens defeated Matt Lazarus, 224-223, to win the men’s open championship in the Broward County United States Bowling Congress Association’s Top Eight Tournament at the Strikers Family SportsCenter in Sunrise recently.

The 36-year-old Pompano Beach man was sitting in third place during qualifying until he rolled a 274 to seize the top seed. 

“I loved it,” Hutchens said. “It was awesome! I love the sport because it is competitive and you can beat anybody,” Hutchens said. “It doesn’t matter what generation you are from, what you like or what your personal interests are. Anything about this game, it doesn’t matter. We are all here for one thing and that is to bowl, and that is what I love.

“You can be a rocker, you can be country or you can be rap,” he continued. “You can be anything you want.”

It was his debut in the Top-8 tournament. He moved to Florida from Indiana in 2013. He bowls at Diamond Strike Lanes in Pompano on Wednesdays, Strikes@Boca on Thursdays and Sawgrass Bowl in Tamarac on Fridays.

The top eight bowlers from around Broward County competed in the one-day event in six divisions –Boys and Girls, Men’s and Women’s Open, and Senior Men and Women. 

“I just wanted to show that I belonged, that’s it,” said Hutchens, who said he has bowled more than a dozen perfect 300-games. “I usually average between 225 and 230, but averaged 240 today. To me, bowling is about fun. It is the enjoyment of the game, meeting new people and everybody fits in because we love one thing and that’s bowling. We all want to win.

We all want to enjoy it, but at the same time we want everybody to be good.”

The competitors in the tournament bowled three games of qualifying and the top four bowlers in each division bowled step ladder finals. The fourth-seeded bowler took on the third seed and that winner bowled the second seed, and the that winner bowled the top-seed for the title.

To qualify for the event, bowlers need to bowl in two leagues in two different houses (bowling alleys) or two leagues in the same bowling center. They have to compete in at least 2/3 of the league to qualify for the Top-8. Juniors needed only one league to qualify for the annual tournament.

By Gary Curreri

The First Tee of Broward recently held its 4th annual Mentors Day at the Pompano Beach Golf Course. The Mentors Day was created four years ago by students from the Pine Crest School golf team as a way to introduce groups of deserving young people to the game of golf. 

This year, they once again partnered with the youth organization, Love Our Nation and Tee-2-Green students at Pine Crest and members of the Pine Crest boys golf team.

This was the third year that Pine Crest senior golfer Dylan Glatt coordinated the program. He was assisted by three other boys, varsity golfers in mentoring, and they were seniors Sam Fruit and Rafael Salazar and freshman Mitchell Jacobs.   

“The student mentors taught practice range safety, demonstrated the full swing, chipping and putting, and then the children got to try it out for themselves,” said Jack Bloomfield, director of operations for the First Tee of Broward County. “At the end of the instruction portion of the program, the children participated in a putting contest.”

“It was a wonderful day,” Bloomfield added. “I would also like to thank the Pompano Beach Golf Course for hosting the event.”

The program concluded with a luncheon for all of the participants sponsored by Galuppi’s on the Green Restaurant. Following lunch, each child was presented with a goody bag filled with golf-related prizes sponsored by the PGA Superstore, Jack Nicklaus, Edwin Watts, The Pompano Municipal Golf Course and the Glatt Family.

Pompano Beach men’s golf results

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a Two Best Ball of Foursome tournament on Aug. 7 at the Pines course.

The team of Dave Dowling, Jim Greeley and Dennis Sejda carded a 113 to take first place ahead of Al DiBenedetto, Robert Raser and Roy Wilhoite who finished two shots back with a 115. Finishing in third was the team of Gary Gill, John Grether and Bob Mascatello, who shot a 123 and won on a match of cards.

Wilhoite won the closest to the pin contest on the third hole by hitting his shot to 12-feet from the hole. He also calmly made the putt for a birdie.

By Gary Curreri

Thomas Christensen, a 2019 graduate of Pompano Beach High School, captured the most prestigious award that the Junior Golf Association (JGA) of Broward County has to offer.

The 18-year-old from Coral Springs won the coveted Julius Boros Award, which goes to the male golfer who had the lowest stroke average for the summer golf series. His scoring average was 72.4. He is headed to the honors college at the University of Florida (UF).

“I’ve always wanted to go to the UF since I was a little kid,” Christensen said. “Both of my parents went to UF and I grew up watching Tim Tebow on TV, so it was kind of my thing. I had to go to UF, and I am happy that I get to go.”

Christensen has played in the JGA of Broward since 2009, but he took some time off when he got frustrated that the other golfers in his group hit the ball farther.

“I had moved up the divisions, but I got to a point to where I didn’t hit the ball far enough to keep up,” he said. “I wasn’t really enjoying it.”

That was when he was 11-years-old. He came back after a two-year layoff after growing about 6 in. in height and working more on his game.

“I was around 5 ft. tall playing in the junior division, and the rest of the golfers looked like giants to me. They were like 5-10 and 5-11,” said Christensen, who is now 6 ft., 3 in. tall. “I was definitely a lot smaller than the rest.”

He finished third in the three-day, season-ending tournament, and, in addition to winning the Boros Award, he also won the Purdo Award for the highest grade point average for a male golfer and also the Bedford Scholarship.

“Going into the past few seasons, it wasn’t about winning every event,” Christensen said. “Every day, I came to this final event of the championship, and I see the guy who gets to go up and get his name engraved on the large Julius Boros Award trophy, and I have always wanted to do that.

“So, this year,” he continued, “it as mostly about earning that award and not so much about winning the individual tournaments. I wasn’t trying to do anything too fancy, just put up some good solid numbers.”

Christensen said he continues to improve.

“I am still learning a lot about my own game,” Christensen said. “I am finding myself in situations where I can post numbers. I like to make several birdies in a round. The key is putting it together every single hole.

“I feel like I am due for that,” Christensen said. “It hasn’t quite happened yet, so I am going to keep working at it.”