Payson Roundup

A foursome of Rim country teenagers has taken their act south to Tucson where the Junior Golf Association of Arizona City Junior Championships were held.

The gold medal battles, which drew about 300 young golfers, were contested June 29 to 30 at Randolph Golf Complex and the Dell Urich course in Tucson.

All four local teens -- Justin Shuman, Bryce Danielson, Thomas Borkowski and Nathan Jones- competed in the boys 15-18-years-of-age regular bracket.

Although all four are members of the Payson High School golf program, they traveled to Tucson on their own.

"We heard it was a great course and it was a challenge to play against some of the state's best," Shuman said.

Shuman turned in the best finish of the four, finishing with a two-round total of 162 on the par 72 course.

On the first day, Shuman shot an 88 but rebounded the second day to tie for the high round of the tournament with a 74. His effort earned him a tie for ninth place.

The 74, Shuman said, was the best round of golf he has shot in his short career. He attributed the second day improvement over the first to his mental approach.

"I was hitting everything solid and was concentrating," he said.

Also, the condition of the course was much more conducive to his type of play on the second day.

"The fairways and greens were very hard the first round," he said. "For me, the course was tough to play."

The tournament champion, Steffen Hartwig of Oro Valley, shot a 149 (74 and 75).

Hartwig and Shuman's 74s were the two low rounds of the tournament

Danielson finished at 196 carding a 96 and 100. Borkowski tallied a 202 (98 and 104) and Jones finished at 221 (108 and 113).