The 2017 season was a banner year for Hunter Logan.
In addition to winning the individual championship at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A Championship and leading the Caledonia High School boys golf team to its second-consecutive state title, Logan won the 16- to 18-year-old division (Division A) of the Mississippi Boys and Girls Junior Amateur in July at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point.
On Friday, Logan topped of his season when he was named the Mississippi Junior Golf Association’s boys overall and Division A Player of the Year. It is Logan’s first honor.
“It helps me know all of the work and time I put into it paid off for me to be able to win this award,” Logan said.
West Point’s Jacob Blanton was named the MJGA’s boys Division D Player of the Year. It is Blanton’s first honor.
Logan earned two victories and another top-five finish at the BankPlus Friends of Junior Golf Tour.
Logan said August Ford, a friend of his from Caledonia High, texted him in October after the final MJGA event of the season to let him know he was going to win the player of the year award. Logan, who didn’t play in the event, said he didn’t know he had captured the final honor. After receiving the message, Logan looked into the award and saw his friend was correct.
“I am glad to have the opportunity to play in all of these tournaments thanks to my parents,” Logan said. “It is also giving me the opportunity to go to college.”
On Sept. 11, Logan gave a verbal commitment to play golf at Mississippi State. He said he won’t start playing again until the spring when the high school season begins. After that, he said he will continue to play in junior golf events.
At the Junior Amateur, Logan, a junior at Caledonia High, won the Carr Haskins Medalist trophy for his first-round low score of 66. He earned the title by shooting 69 in the second round and 71 in the third round for a 10-under 206 that was eight shots better than the second-place finishers.
Nationally, Logan tied for 41st with an 8-over-par 152 at the Trusted Choice National Big I Junior Championship in August at Annandale Golf Club in Madison. He also teamed with Cohen Trolio, of West Point, to shoot a 7-under-par 64 to finish second and earn one of the two qualifying spots for the United States Golf Association’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship on May 19-23, 2018, at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Florida.
Logan said he is working on improving his ball striking with his driver and with his irons in an attempt to be more consistent.
I have a mind-set in every tournament to play my best,” Logan said. “I am going to try to go and play the best I can and have some fun.”
Blanton won the Boys Junior Amateur, Greenwood Junior, Randy Watkins Junior, and the Future Tour Championship.
The only tournament Blanton didn’t win was The Pros of Tomorrow, where he tied for first. The tie was broken by a hole-by-hole playoff where Jacob then finished as runner-up.
Blanton also joined the Junior River Cup Team in Louisiana and was a participant in the BankPlus Sanderson Farms Junior Pro-Am.
Other award winners are: Joel Myrick, of Hattiesburg (MGA Player of the Year); David Sellers, of Madison (MGA Senior Player of the Year); Ricky Sims, of Canton (MGA Super Senior Player of the Year); Presley Baggett, of Canton (MJGA girls overall and 16- to 18-year-old Player of the Year); Emma Smithers, of Ellisville (MJGA girls 13-15 Player of the Year); David Beard III, of Madison (MJGA boys Division B Player of the Year); Hayes Smith, of Como (MJGA boys Division C Player of the Year); Harper Anne Hinckley, of McComb (MJGA girls Division D Player of the Year); Allie Myers, of Pearl (MJGA girls Division E Player of the Year); and John Markow, of Jackson (MJGA boys Division E Player of the Year).
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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