10-year-old lands a hole-in-one during Enid Junior Open at Oakwood

Thirteen-year-old Kale Crocker, of Laverne, takes a look at a long putt. (Staff Photo by ANDY CARPENEAN)

By Chris Dell

Staff Writer



It was a perfect day for golf Thursday at Oakwood Country Club. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and it seemed like a perfect day to tame the links.

It was quite the contrary for those competing in the final round of the Enid Junior Open.

The course turned out to be a true meat grinder with thick rough and difficult pin placements.

Only Carolyn Koepping, 10, was able to get the best of the course. On the par-3 12th hole, Koepping knocked her tee shot straight into the cup for a hole-in-one.

"It was incredible," said her father, Clark Koepping. "I jumped up and down, yelled and screamed, and everybody looked at me like I was nuts."

Carolyn, aided by her hole-in-one, won the girls 11-Under division, firing a 66 on nine holes and finishing with a two-day total of 142.

Carolyn's sister, Kristen Koepping, won the 16-17-year-old girls division, shooting a 98 Thursday for a tournament total of 204.

In the 16-17-year-old boys division, David Lawrence held a four-stroke lead over Jon Cline after the first round, shooting a 71 Wednesday at Meadowlake.

Heading back to his home course, it seemed it would be easy for Lawrence to hold his lead. Much to his surprise, it only took one hole for that lead to disappear completely.

Lawrence lost his ball on the par-5 first hole and was forced to take a triple bogey, while Cline birdied the hole to draw even.

Lawrence would not let that phase him, though. He went on to win the tournament, shooting a 74 on Thursday and finishing with a 145. Cline finished second with a 75 Thursday for a two-day total of 150.

Lawrence put the tournament to rest on the par-3 16th, making a 10-foot putt for birdie, while Cline made double bogey. After the hole, Lawrence moved four strokes clear of Cline.

"It's a pretty good accomplishment to win this tournament," said Lawrence. "I've worked really hard to get to this point."

Lawrence plays for Enid High School's golf team, which fell short of the state tournament last year. Lawrence said things will be different next year.

"We came up a little bit short last year," said Lawrence. "This year I think we'll make it to state for sure."

In the 14-15-year-old division, Jordan Brown out-dueled Jarred Darrough. Coming into Thursday, they were dead even at 73. Brown shot a 74 Thursday to finish at 147 for the tournament, while Darrough finished with a 151.

Clayton Cunningham, who has drawn accolades from local club pros, ran away with the boys 12-13-year-old division, shooting a 74 on Thursday after finishing with an 81 on Wednesday.

Mason Overstreet won the boys 11-under division, shooting a 42 on nine holes and finishing with a tournament total of 83.

Taylor Williamson won the girls 12-13-year-old division, firing a 104 Thursday after a 116 on Wednesday.

Enid Junior Open

Final results

At Meadowlake Golf Course and Oakwood Country Club

Boys 16-17

David Lawrence 71-74--145

Jon Cline 75-75--150

Beau Streck 77-83--160

Garrett Diel 76-89--165

Connor Reeves 82-87--169

Brett Scott 84-92--176

Dustin Whitney 102-102--204



Boys 14-15

Jordan Brown 73-74--147

Jarred Darrough 73-78--151

Bryce Crawford 79-81--160

Ryan Coppock 80-86--166

Robert Walker 89-93--182

Casey Schapansky 105-108--213

Karl Grosz 105-109--215



Boys 12-13

Clayton Cunningham 81-74--155

James Butler 81-79--160

Kale Crocker 88-86--174

Chad Scott 82-94--176

Taylor Brown 91-89--180

Tyler Paine 89-96--185

Trevor Singleton 95-90--185

Colby Scott 108-99--207

Patrick Yarbrough 117-129--246

Connor Walker 124-124--248

Cale Potts 191-139--330



Boys 11-Under

Mason Overstreet 41-42--83

Seth Overstreet 43-44--87

Colton Jackson 50-48--98

Ashton Armstrong 48-51--99

Austin Hawkins 55-46--101

Garrett Birchfield 52-50--102

Ryan Klasing 52-51--103

Steven Nicholas 65-54--119

Tucker Singleton 67-69--136



Girls 16-17

Kristen Koepping 106-98--204



Girls 12-13

Taylor Williamson 116-104--220



Girls 11-Under

Carolyn Koepping 76-66--142

Whitney Livesay 79-87--166