Bluffton golfer cruises to Jimmy Self Invitational at Palmetto Dunes

Bluffton’s Anne Fernandez continued her strong play on the SC Junior Golf Association circuit this summer.

Fernandez won her third title of the summer by winning the girls division of the Jimmy Self Invitational hosted by the Palmetto Dunes’ George Fazio Course.

Fernandez, who was born in Singapore, finished with a 4-under 206 to be crowned champion of the girls 13-18 division. She fired five birdies and a final round score of 2-under 68, claiming the title by 28 shots and taking home her third consecutive SCJGA win of the summer.

Fernandez also won the Blade Junior Classic and Upstate Junior Classic over the past two months and the American Junior Golf Association’s Keith Mitchell Junior Championship.

“Today was a pretty good day,” Fernandez said..“I struck the ball well, left myself a lot of birdies chances and the wind was working in my favor. Winning this tournament and getting a back-to-back win after the Blade is an amazing feeling. I worked really hard prior to this tournament summer, so to see my hard work pay off like this is really rewarding.”

Drew Jeffords overcame a one-shot deficit to win the Jimmy Self boys championship. He had five birdies in the final round and finished with an overall tournament score of 2-over par 212, taking home his first SCJGA win.

“It was a good day today,” Jeffords said. “I was hitting everything pretty close, finished the front nine at one-under and then just kind of held that through the back nine. I’ve been playing in SCJGA events since I was like 10 and to finally get a major win feels great.”

Matthew Baxley of North Augusta was runner-up in the boys division, finishing one shot back. Beaufort’s Simon McAlister (220) was tied for sixth and Bluffton’s Luke Block (221) tied for ninth.