Big moments, bright futures: Creavy, Bodnar, Schleyer earn U.S. Junior Amateur berths at Ledges GC qualifier (PHOTOS)
Published: 06-16-2025 7:05 PM |
SOUTH HADLEY — When Westminster’s Lukas Schleyer arrived at Ledges Golf Club for Monday’s U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier, he didn’t necessarily expect to beat out the nearly 70 competitors to finish in the top three – which is the requirement for advancing to play in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas, July 21-26.
So as he stepped to the 18th tee box at 4-under par, enough to slot him inside the top three, Schleyer felt the pressure begin to mount. If he made par, he’d move on. If he bogeyed, there would be a three-way tie for third and a playoff would ensue.
The latter occurred, and Schleyer’s day got a little bit longer. He, Harry Garland and Luke Edgar all shot rounds of 3-under 69 and had to play the 10th hole to determine who would get the final spot in the championship – joining Orlando, Florida’s Tyler Creavy (5-under 67) and North Andover’s AJ Bodnar (4-under 68).
Schleyer put his 18th-hole bogey behind him and made par on the par-5 10th. Edgar and Garland each made a bogey, sending Schleyer through in thrilling fashion.
“I was a little nervous, but I kept my composure,” Schleyer said of the playoff hole. “I hit a bad tee shot left, but I was able to keep focused and worry about the shot ahead. I hit a good five iron just short of the green and then two-putt. It was a great two-putt, and now I’m very happy.”
After Schleyer tapped in his putt for a five, his dad ran down and give him a big hug to celebrate the roller coaster finish.
“It was pretty special,” Schleyer said of the moment. “Coming here, I don’t think either of us were expecting this. I haven’t played great so far this year, but I was able to play really well today. I’m happy about that.”
Like Schleyer, Creavy’s day similarly spouted out of nowhere. Creavy traveled with his family to Massachusetts from Florida to visit his grandparents, who live on Cape Cod.
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Creavy started 3-under through eight holes before teeing up his ball on the par-5 ninth. He lost his drive out of bounds and was forced to hit his third shot from the tee box. He proceeded to make a bogey and limit the damage, then turned around and birdied the 10th to get that dropped shot right back.
He knew he was in contention even after another bogey on the 12th hole knocked him back to 2-under par, but understood he had to turn it up a notch to crack the top three. Creavy birdied 14, 15 and 16 back-to-back-to-back, and parred the 17th and 18th to earn medalist honors on the day with the 5-under 67.
“I knew I was kind of in it after I birdied 10, but I knew I still needed to make a few birdies,” Creavy said. “And then I made three in a row, so it was great… My wedges were really good today. Usually my wedges aren’t great, but today they were amazing. That definitely was a big factor into my score.”
Before Creavy was even born, his mother played in a qualifier for the U.S. Junior Amateur. She won the event roughly 25 years ago. Like mother, like son.
“This feels amazing,” Creavy said. “My mom won this tournament like 25 years ago, so it was great to play and win. We were just here for fun because we’re going to Cape Cod to visit my grandparents, so this is a nice bonus.”
Outside of Creavy, Bodnar and Schleyer, Garland and Edgar continued their playoff until fourth and fifth places were established. Garland won to take fourth while Edgar slid into fifth. Those two will be listed as alternates in case somebody who qualified for the championship can’t attend it.
Those five aside, there were 10 other golfers who finished under par and another four who turned in even par rounds of 72 at Ledges on Monday in an impressive display of golf. George Mcglinn of Seattle, Washington, Reese Jenson of Duxbury and North Attleboro’s Drew MacLeod all finished at 2-under par (70).
The lone local competitor was Belchertown’s Michael Murray, who was well in the mix the entire day. Murray shot a 1-over par 37 on the front nine before rifling off three birdies on the back nine that got him to 2-under with two to play. He blasted driver down the middle on 17, leaving him with a wedge shot into the green. However it just caught the lip of the bunker and rolled in, and he ultimately made bogey. Another bogey on the par-5 18th set Murray back to a final score of even par 72 and a tie for 16th place.
After the boys teed off in the morning, the girls tee times got underway in the afternoon on Monday at Ledges Golf Club. Participants from all over the world – including countries like China and Colombia as well as states like Georgia and New York – showcased their skills while looking to punch their ticket to the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, which takes place at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia, July 15-20.
Only two girls earned a spot, with Daniela Paez Rodriguez firing the lowest score and lone under-par round of the day to take medalist honors. Rodriguez, from Colombia, shot a 1-under 71 with only two bogeys, while Dover, N.H.’s Carys Fennessy shot a 1-over par 73 to come in second and book a spot in the championship.
The only local competitor on the girls side was Granby’s Ryley Regan, who finished tied for 24th with a 9-over 81. Regan started out sizzling with three consecutive pars and a birdie on her fourth hole of the day – putting her at 1-under. She finished her front nine (the back nine of Ledges) 3-over par (39) and proceeded to shoot a 42 on her back nine (front nine of Ledges) to end the day.
Not a bad showing at all for the eighth grader who plays her high school golf at Hopkins Academy in Hadley.
The course played tough in the afternoon as wind began to pick up. Including Rodriguez and Fennessy, only seven total golfers on the girls side shot better than 5-over par.