Two Clark County golfers went right down to the final hole to decide the Oregon Junior Stroke Play Championship on Thursday at the OGA Members Course in Woodburn, Ore.
Nick Huff, a junior-to-be at Hockinson High School, held on to the lead he built in the first round to beat Brett Johnson by one shot on Friday.
Huff, who opened the 54-hole championship with a 5-under par 66, shot a 1-under 70 to finish with a 6-under 207. Johnson, a senior-to-be at Ridgefield and the 2011 Class 1A high school state champion, finished with a 5-under 208 to place second. Johnson shot a 3-under 68 in the final round on Thursday.
“I just wanted to keep doing what I’m doing,” Huff said. “Coming into the day I just wanted to take it one step at a time.”
Huff was challenged all day by Johnson, who came into the day in sole possession of third and three shots back from the leader.
Johnson actually claimed the lead following a stretch of three consecutive birdies from holes 9 through 11 to get him to 6-under par for the tournament.
“Brett pushed me on the back nine,” said Huff who rejoined Johnson atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the par-3 13th hole, and reclaimed the lead after a costly bogey by Johnson on the par-3 17th hole.
After going bogey-free for the final 15 holes of his round, Huff unleashed a firm fist pump upon rolling in a three-footer on the last hole to secure the major victory.
Alistair Docherty, a senior-to-be at Union and last week’s Oregon Junior Amateur champion, placed tied for sixth at 216.
Other locals included Diego De La Torre of Brush Prairie (20th, 231), Brian Humphreys of Washougal (25th, 234) and Taylor Smith of Vancouver (37th, 237).
