Cedar Creek’s Alex Roebuck spent the past three days competing against some of the top high school players in the country.
by Malcolm Butler
It was an experience that not too many golfers Alex Roebuck’s age can claim.
The Cedar Creek junior-to-be spent the past three days competing against 300 of the best high school golfers in the country at the 2025 High School Golf National Invitational sponsored by the PGA.
And to top it all off, he played three incredible courses at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
Roebuck, who earned the invite after winning the Division IV state individual title this past May, shot 72, 80 and 71 for a three-round total of eight-over-par 224. He tied for 89th place out of 301 competitors who played all 54 holes.
“It was amazing,” said Roebuck about the experience. “Just knowing that I am on the same property that a US Open has been played a number of times.”
Roebuck, who is coached by Squire Creek’s Brad Pullin, said that the key to round one and round three was accuracy.
“I kept driver in play mostly,” said Roebuck. “And I made some putts.
“They had a lot of (out of bounds). There was about five yards of rough on each side of the fairway and then it was straight to OB. Keeping it in play was the key to how to scoring well here.”
After struggling in the second round with an eight-over-par 80 on Pinehurst #8, Roebuck bounced back Tuesday with a one-under-par 71 highlighted by an eagle on the Par 5, No. 15 on Pinehurst #6.
“A near albatross,” said Roebuck. “I think I had 198 yards, and I hit a five-iron to about four feet. My dad said I rolled it right past the hole. It looked like it was going to be a good shot (when it left the club), and that’s what it ended up being. It had to have been really close to going in for an albatross.
“I haven’t had one yet. I think it’s the hardest thing to get in golf.”
New Jersey native Rory Asselta won the event with a three-round total of 16-under (200), while Virginia native Jake Albert finished one stroke back with a 201.
Roebuck tied with seven other golfers for 89th, moving up 37 spots on the final round. Only 24 golfers finished in red numbers for the event.
“I think the biggest thing for me is I have to grow in general,” said Roebuck. “I have to start eating more, working out, getting stronger so I can get to another level so I can keep up with the guys who are (collegiate-caliber) players. I need a little more length off the tee.”
