Justus wins 11-12 age group of Future Masters, Dothan's Steltenpohl finishes fifth (2024)

JON JOHNSON

As Hudson Justus of Gainesville, Ga., dropped the tap-in putt to lock up the championship in the 11-12 age division of the 75th Annual Press Thornton Future Masters, he let out a celebratory yell of, “Come on!”

It was time to relax after what turned into an intense three-way battle between Justus, Lincoln Rubis of Farmers Branch, Texas, and Wyatt Brindza of Celina, Texas, during the final round Tuesday at the Dothan Country Club.

“It felt great, because Lincoln and Wyatt put up a really great fight today,” Justus said. “I was 3-under through 4 and made a bogey on 6 and that really changed it a good bit there … a two-shot swing with Lincoln there.”

Justus finished the three-day tournament at 3-under par 207 (70-70-67), winning by a stroke over both Brindza and Rubis, who made five birdies during the round to make a serious run.

The three were tied going to No. 17, but Justus birdied to take the lead after Brindza made a bogey and Rubis made par.

“I had 85 yards and hit it around 70 and rolled just down the hill to 5 feet and just rolled it in,” Justus said.

With a 1-stroke lead over Rubis and 2-strokes ahead of Brindza, Justus hit his tee shot down the left side of the fairway on No. 18.

“I hit a 3-wood off that tee all week,” Justus said. “Luckily Lincoln was a little behind me, so I knew where he hit it would depend on what I did. He was short, so I hit a full swing and just chunked it a little bit and came up a little short.”

While Justus and Rubis were both about 40 feet short of the pin on 18, Brindza hit a great shot that rolled a couple of feet past the flag.

The putt by Rubis rolled just 2 feet past the hole and Justus followed with an even better putt just a foot from the hole for the easy tap in for victory.

Rubis would have the low score of the day at 5-under 65 after rolling in his short putt for par to end the round. Brindza would birdie the hole for a 3-under 67.

Justus finished second in the age division a year ago. He was the 10-under champion in 2021 and can now add another Future Masters trophy to his collection.

“It feels great, especially to be two-time (champion),” Justus said. “Last year I was second place, so this year just feels a whole lot better because last year I didn’t putt as well … this year I putted better."

Rubis was three strokes behind Justus to start the day, but got off to a great start and kept it rolling.

“I hit my irons pretty good and put myself in good positions,” Rubis said. “The putter was a little better today than it was the first two days. It was fun out there.

“I made like a 40-footer on 1, and then on 18 I just barely missed it from like 40 feet. I just kept giving myself fairway, green, putt … just simple golf.”

Brindza, who had four birdies in his first 10 holes, had a two-stroke lead after 11, but made double-bogey on 12 to fall into a three-way tie with Justus and Rubis.

“It was nice to end on a positive note and it was just a great time out there,” Brindza said. “I feel good. It was big for my confidence and looking forward to next year.”

Dothan’s Mac Steltenpohl shot even-par 70 on Tuesday to finish in fifth place with a three-round 218, just behind Beckett McLaughlin of Austin, Texas, who finished at 213.

Steltenpohl had a tough second round of 78 after a first round 70, but bounced back nicely on Tuesday.

He had a birdie on his third hole and then a double-bogey on 8 and a bogey on 9 to make the turn at 2-over. He birdied 10 and 17 to finish strong.

“Yesterday was very bumpy,” Steltenpohl said of his second round.

The good finish had Steltenpohl pleased.

“I made a long putt from the fringe on 17 to get it back to even and that felt really rewarding,” Steltenpohl said. “You can always do better, but I like it.”

Luke An of Houston, Texas, and Greysen Cloern of Louisville, Ky., each came in at 219, followed by Benny Ossi of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., (220), Cullen Beck of Greenville, S.C., (221) and Coley Cassedy of Grovetown, Ga., (222).