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By Alex Kuhn
Sports Editor 

Simmons battles with friendly rival to take first place

 

September 8, 2017

COURTESY/ Randy and Melissa Simmons

Karsten Simmons, left, and Parker Paxton, right, are all smiles after going first and second at the Longmont Open in Twin Peaks, Colorado on September 2-3.

WORLAND - Worland youth golfing phenom Karsten Simmons was at it again winning the Longmont Open in Twin Peaks, Colorado on Sept. 2-3.

As part of the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour, Simmons shot a 72 on Day One, 71 on Day Two for a 143 tournament total. Simmons bested second-place finisher Parker Paxton, of Riverton and friend of Simmons, by six strokes as the two Wyoming boys went one and two at the tournament.

Simmons and Paxton also finished with the lowest totals of the tournament in all age divisions.

"Karsten got to play in the event with one of his buddies from Riverton that is a force to be reckoned with also, Parker Paxton. Karsten and Parker have been playing tournament golf together for over seven years. Parker kept on Karsten's heels the entire way. He played real well and had a few tough breaks. The two Wyoming kids brought the thunder to Colorado placing first and second," said Randy Simmons, Karsten's father.

Karsten Simmons has always been able to handle adversity out on the course well and the tournament in Twin Peaks was no different. Simmons had been struggling with his swing but was able to recover with a strong short game.

"Karsten was having trouble coming in under his swing plane over the weekend. He missed tee shots and iron shots fighting his swing plane. He was an unreal 100 yards and in, he just kept on taking care of business and making pars. He had one hole on the front nine on Sunday that he chose to take a short cut to the hole and hit his tee shot over the water hazard. He wound up perfect on the fairway around 100 yards out.

"He hit the shot a little heavy and took too much divot behind the ball. He wound up making an easy hole into a challenge. His ball landed short of the green. His next shot he threw a low screamer at the hole and his ball checked up quick and hit the brakes. It continued to roll very slightly and dropped in the hole for three. He birdied the hole and moved on," said Randy Simmons.

Karsten Simmons' next three tournaments will be on Sept. 15-16 in Kaysville, Utah, the Optimist Junior Tour Qualifier in Denver on Oct. 15-16 and Bear's Best in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November, where Simmons will look to defend his title from last year.

The Optimist Junior Tour gives Simmons an opportunity to qualify for a larger tournament that will be held in Florida in July 2018. That tournament will have the best youth golfers from around the world competing to be crowned the best.

"This is one of the tournaments where the top players in the world compete. We hope to keep Karsten healthy and get him plenty of practice time," said Randy Simmons. 

 
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