In an unusual showing of strength, local junior golfers swept the inaugural Winternational Junior Series this past weekend, with Austin Dunlap, of Pinehurst, winning the Junior/Senior Division, Joshua Martin, of Pinehurst, winning the Freshman/ Sophomore Division and Elizabeth Hall, of Southern Pines, winning the Girls Division.

The series, which consists of nine championships for high school age boys and girls, got under way last Saturday at Pinehurst Resort.

One of the oldest of its kind in the country, the series has had over 1,600 young men and women pass through its membership since inception in 1993.

This year, more than 120 members of the series are invited to play any or all of the championships. The final round of the final tourney will be contested in March on designer Donald Ross' original Pinehurst Course, No. 1.

As in past years, the high school boys are divided into two divisions, one being for juniors and seniors and the other for freshmen and sophomores.

Martin won the Freshman/ Sophomore Division championship by eight shots. A seventh-grader at West Pine Middle School, Martin, a frequent series winner, led both days with 68-68--136. Four birdies in round one and two in round two in addition to a second-round eagle secured the low-round award as well.

A freshman at Alpha-Omega Academy from Conover, Ben Dietrich, was runner-up with a 72-72--144, winning in a scorecard playoff. Third place went to Erik Benson, Norwood, with 70-74--144. Fourth-place winner, Davis Bateman, of Charlotte, shot a 75-71--146.

Series veteran Austin Dunlap, of Pinehurst, shot 69-72--141 to win the Junior/Senior division by a stroke. Andrew Fowler, of Cary, and Alex Wise, of Greensboro, tied for second at 142, with Fowler prevailing in a card playoff.

Clay Holland, of Burlington, was fourth with 145 and Sam Packard, of Pinehurst, took fifth place with 146.

Elizabeth Hall, of Southern Pines, shot 77-77--154 to win the Girls Division. Hailey Crider, of Pinehurst, claimed second place with 273, while Summer Barmore took third.

Hall highlighted the victory with an eagle 2 on the 10th hole when she holed her second shot from 197 yards.

The Winternational Junior Series will hold its second event Nov. 28-29 on Pinehurst Resort's famed No. 8 Course. Contact Peter deYoung, Inc. at (910) 295-5661 for further information.