James Sugg won the battle of Pinehurst residents, surviving a balky putter and a strong bid by A.J. Beechler to claim the 15th annual North Carolina Junior Boys 13-and-Under Championship held at Asheboro Golf Club last week.

Sugg, a rising eighth-grader, managed to hold off a determined bid by the 11-year-old Beechler, who will enter the sixth grade this school year.

Sugg got off to fast start and was 2-up after three holes on the Donald Ross-designed course. But Beechler rallied and the match was even at the turn.

A four-putt by Sugg on the 17th green gave Beechler the lead, but the match was squared when Beechler made bogey on 18. Sugg closed out the match on the 19th hole.

To reach the finals, Sugg defeated Connor Moore, of Durham, 4 and 2, Austin Harrill, of Hickory, 4 and 2, and Blake Taylor, of Atkinson, 3 and 1.

Beechler ousted Jared Crouch, of Cary, 4 and 3, Grant Smith, of Charlotte, 3 and 2, and Colton Naslund, of Charlotte, in 10 holes.

In other flights, medalist Henry Shrimp, of Charlotte, defeated Justin Emmons, of Asheboro, 1-up; Logan Shuping, of Salisbury, defeated Kevin Sowinski, of Greensboro, 1-up; Stephen Carrolls, of Concord, defeated Nicholas Poole, of Greensboro, 4 and 2 to win the third flight; and in the fourth flight, Kelland Bodenheimer, of Clemmons, defeated Sanford Thompson, of Raleigh, in 10 holes.

TW-First Tee: Colin Kane, of Pinehurst, shot 79 to win the Orange Tee title in the June 29-30 Tin Whistles-First Tee Junior Tour event held at Seven Lakes Country Club. Ethan Waters, of Carthage, was second with 81, while Garrett Mason, of Richfield, shot 87.

Jaclyn Kenzel shot 88 to win the Orange Tee Girls Flight, with Alexandria Manalang, of Raleigh, at 100 and Neena Baker, of West End, at 131.

The Red Tee Boys title was shared by Symon Balbin and Fulton Smith, both of Pinehurst, with 81. Dakota Locklear, of Pembroke, shot 89.

McKenzie Battle, of Pinehurst, won the Red Tee Girls Flight with 103, followed by Jessica Grady, of Foxfire, with 116.

Caroline Rea posted 160 to win the 18-hole Girls Division, with Savannah Thompson, of West End, at 187.

Chriseagle Kim, of Cary, shot 146 to win the Boys Red Tees Flight with Bobby Capps, of West End, at 163 and Andy Choi, of Durham, at 175.

John Rea, of Pinehurst, shot 153 to take the Boys White Tees Flight, followed by Jeremy Keyes, of Cary, with 159 and Bryan D’Ostroph, of Whispering Pines, at 163.

Charles Maness, of Troy, won the Boys Blue Tees Flight with 156, with Sumner Tate, of Raleigh, at 159, Josh Stockwell, of Aberdeen, and Patrick McCleary, of Morehead City, tied at 165.

The event at Pinehurst No. 6 on July 12-13 was shortened by weather and flights were decided by number of holes completed by all flight members.

Waters won the Nine-Hole Orange Tees Flight with 68 when only eight holes were completed on the second day. Mason was second with 78 and Carson Burney, of Southern Pines, third with 81.

Battle won the Red Tees Girls Flight with 112, with Kenzel second with 123 and Grady third at 128.

The Boys Red Tees Flight, with only eight holes played on the second day, was taken by Benjamin Crow, of Pinehurst. Locklear was second with 83 and Ryan Ayers, of Pinehurst, shot 87.

Thompson shot 114 to win the 27-hole Girls title, with Hailey Crider second with 120 and Rea third at 123.

Kim shot 130 to win the Red Tee Boys A Flight with only 13 holes played in the final round. Balbin was second with 148 and Andrew Johnson, of North Wilkesboro, shot 155.

Choi shot 133 to win the Red Tees Boys Flight, with Drew Viney-Sinsley, of Pinehurst, at 134 and Robinson at 138 with 12 holes played in the final round.

Rea shot 133 to win the Boys White Tee Flight, followed by Griffin Cryan with 138 and D’Ostroph at 140 with 12 holes completed in the final round.

Stockwell shot 127 to win the Blue Tees Boys Flight, with Kirkland Caison, of Raleigh, at 130 and Charles Maness, of Troy, at 133 with 13 holes completed on the second day.

Pine Crest Golf: Brent and Michael Holmes teamed for 62 to win the inaugural Pine Crest Inn Golf Association Member-Guest event held at the Dormie Club.

Charlie Schoonover and Miles Hair placed second with 63, defeated by Steve Frobey and Jeffrey Irving in a card playoff. David Brunetz and Bob Decicco topped Jim and Rebecca Bankhead for fourth place after they had tied at 64. Dave Muir won the closest to the pin contest on the par-3 12th hole.

Contact Howard Ward at howardward@att.net.