53rd Southern Junior Championship at Dataw Island 2025
After three days of competition on Dataw Island’s Cotton Dike course, designed by Tom Fazio, the 2025 Southern Junior Champion was crowned.
Bailey Sutter of Cullman, Alabama, captured the 53rd Southern Junior Championship title, clinching victory in a playoff, after firing seven birdies in the final round to rise to the top of a competitive leaderboard. After the completion of the final round, Sutter (73, 67, 66) and Andrew Sciortino (71,67,68) of Brentwood, Tennessee, were tied for first at ten-under 206 overall.
A sudden-death playoff took place on the eighteenth hole. Sutter and Sciortino both started the playoff with impressive drives to work their way through the par-five that eventually would crown the champion. After swinging their way to the green, Sutter gained the victory with a birdie over Sciortino’s par.
When asked about the moments before the playoff that would later lead to his clinched title, Sutter spoke with humility, “I made it this far, I might as well finish it. But, whatever happens, I’ll still give all the glory to God.”
“I wanted to go out there and give it my all, I did not want to leave anything out on the course,” said Sutter.
Sciortino’s playoff par placed him in second behind Sutter. Scortinio had three birdies and an eagle in the final round on the final round Friday, posting three impressive under par rounds for the tournament (71, 67, 68).
Pavel Tsar of Palm Gardens, Florida (71, 71, 66), Braeden Nelson of West Des Moines Iowa (70, 68, 70), and Sage Bradshaw (69, 67, 72) of Bluffton, SC collectively ended the tournament tied for third, all finishing at eight-under 208 overall.
The winner of the Southern Junior Championship receives a silver medal; his name engraved on the Perry Adair Trophy; a Calamity Jane putter; exemption into the 2025 Southern Amateur Championship; exemption into all future Southern Junior Championships in which he is eligible to compete; and is fully Exempt with AJGA thru 2026.
Dataw Island is very grateful for our members, many of whom showed up to support these young athletes as shuttle drivers, standard bearers, to support watch them play, and to permit the use of the course to celebrate and nurture youth golf. The warm welcome was felt by all, with many parents, coaches, and officials complimenting our membership.
Thank you as well to the sponsors for making this event a reality!