Year: 2018

Spring Series VI – Paradise Valley & Rancho Solano GC

Nov 27, 2018Comments Off on Spring Series VI – Paradise Valley & Rancho Solano GCPast Results, Tournaments

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Spring Series VI – Paradise Valley & Rancho Solano

*Note – Pairings will be released April 26th*

CIG-Sponsored Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Spring Series VI Championship at Rancho Solano Golf Course and Paradise Valley Golf Course in Fairfield

 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (May 6, 2019) – Sponsored by Capital Insurance Group, the 2018-2019 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Sunday at the Spring Series VI Championship at Rancho Solano Golf Course and Paradise Valley Golf Course.

Zachery Pollo shot 4-under 140 and Selena Tang shot 6-over 150 to win their respective divisions at the Spring Series VI Championship held Saturday and Sunday at par-72 Rancho Solano GC and Paradise Valley GC.

Pollo earned his first win of the 2018-2019 season with some clutch play on Sunday. Twice a runner-up this season, he’d card a bogey-free 4-under 68 at Rancho Solano. In Saturday’s opener at Paradise Valley, Pollo carded a 72.

The 68 by Pollo was good enough to hold off runner-up Jackson Koivun by a stroke. Koivun tried to make a run with six birdies in the final round, but he’d also card a pair of bogeys.

Dylan McDermott was third at 145 after a final round 74. Davis McDowell finished fourth at 146 and Angelo Marcon was fifth at 147.

In the Girls’ Championship, Tang also got her first win of the season. Tang, who had finished third in two previous events, played her last five holes at Paradise Valley GC at 1-under thanks to a birdie on the 16th for a final round 74 and one-shot victory over co-runners-up Kati Wilkes and Annika Cruz. Wilkes was awarded second place in a card-off.

Wilkes, who came in at 151 after a final round 75, got within a shot with a birdie on the 15th but couldn’t get any closer, making par on her final three holes. Cruz, who had a final round 77, was able to only muster one birdie on Sunday.

Adora Liu and Sydney Sung were also in the running. The two finished T-4 at 152 after final rounds of 76 and 78, respectively.

In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Jaden Dumdumaya shot a final round 74 to come in at 145 and defeat co-runners-up Edan Cui and Henry Lambert by six shots.

Lambert was awarded second place in a card-off. Fourth place went to Ted Davenport at 153.

In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Camille Thai shot a final round 75 to come in at 147 and defeat co-runners-up Alaythia Hinds and Taylor Baik by two shots.

Hinds was awarded second place following a card-off. Darla May Dela Torre was fourth at 150.

Next up on the JTNC calendar is the Mother’s Day Tournament (First Flight), to be held May 12 at Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey.

Spring Series V – Darkhorse GC

Nov 27, 2018Comments Off on Spring Series V – Darkhorse GCPast Results, Tournaments

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*Please note: Live pairings will be available on April 22nd.

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CIG-Sponsored Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Spring Series V Championship at Darkhorse Golf Club in Auburn

 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (April 29, 2019) – Sponsored by Capital Insurance Group, the 2018-2019 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Sunday at the Spring Series V Championship at Darkhorse Golf Club in Auburn.

Curtis Dasilva shot 5-over 149 and Jaclyn Laha shot 1-under 143 to win their respective divisions at the Spring Series V Championship held Saturday and Sunday at par-72 Darkhorse Golf Club.

Boys’ Championship winner Curtis Dasilva, runner-up Gregory Mouser and third place finisher Julian Monas (left to right)

Dasilva notched his first win of the 2018-2019 season thanks in part to a solid second round 73 that featured three birdies to go against four bogeys.

In Saturday’s opener, Dasilva had two more birdies. He’d defeat runner-up Gregory Mouser by four strokes. Mouser had rounds of 77-76.

Julian Monas took third place at 154 after a 73. Jacob Aaron was fourth at 155 and Camdan Indelicato was fifth at 160.

Girls’ Championship winner Jaclyn LaHa, runner-up Danielle Suh and third place finisher Meredith McDougal (left to right)

In the Girls’ Championship, Laha nabbed her second win of the season after starting off with a red-hot 3-under 69. In Saturday’s opener, LaHa carded five birdies to go against just two bogeys.

A day later, LaHa shot a 74 to defeat runner-up Danielle Suh by five shots. Suh, the current leader in the Girls’ Player of the Year points race, came in at 148 after a second round 71.

Third place went to Meredith McDougal at 151, with Hannah Harrison taking fourth at 155. Finishing in a tie for fifth at 157 were Nikki Chindavong and Lily Landt.

Boys’ First Flight winner Brandon Knight, runner-up Ryan Firpo and third place finisher Akhil Sharma (left to right)

In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Brandon Knight shot a final round 72 to come in at 148, defeating runner-up Ryan Firpo by eight shots.

Third place went to Akhil Sharma at 160. Jack Brown and Jayden Lizama finished T-4 at 162.

Girls’ First Flight winner Ryan Flynn, runner-up Mia Gribskov and third place finisher Jordan Chan (left to right)

In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Ryan Flynn shot a final round 79 to come in at 157, defeating runner-up Mia Gribskov by two shots.

Third place went to Jordan Chan at 161. Cindy Wang was fourth at 162 and Tara Ng was fifth at 165.

Next up on the JTNC calendar is the Spring Series VI Championship, to be held May 4-5 at Paradise Valley and Rancho Solano GC in Fairfield.

Spring Series IV – Franklin Canyon GC

Nov 27, 2018Comments Off on Spring Series IV – Franklin Canyon GCPast Results, Tournaments

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*Please note: Live pairings will be available on April 5th.

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CIG-Sponsored Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Spring Series IV Championship at Franklin Canyon Golf Course in Hercules

 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (April 15, 2019) – Sponsored by Capital Insurance Group, the 2018-2019 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Sunday at the Spring Series IV Championship at Franklin Canyon Golf Course in Hercules.

Luke Jun shot 7-over 151 and Cynthia Zhang shot 9-over 151 to win their respective divisions at the Spring Series IV Championship held Saturday and Sunday at par-72 Franklin Canyon Golf Course.

Boys’ Championship winner Luke Jun, runner-up Zachery Pollo and third place finisher Moses Greene (left to right)

Jun notched his first win of the 2018-2019 season in dramatic fashion, winning on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with a par. He’d defeat Zach Pollo and Moses Greene, who also finished with 36-hole totals of 151.

Jun posted three birdies on Sunday in regulation on his way to a 73. He’d card a par on the 18th. Pollo looked like he was out of it after a bogey on the 17th, but he’d respond with a clutch birdie on No.18 for a 72. Greene had been in the driver’s seat after an opening 75, but he shot a second round 76. Pollo earned second place in a card-off.

Third place went to Davis McDowell at 154, while Kane Lauterman took fifth at 155.

Girls’ Championship winner Cynthia Zhang, runner-up Kiara Romero and third place finisher Selena Tang (left to right)

In the Girls’ Championship, Zhang also notched her first win of the season in dramatic fashion.

Zhang birdied the 12th hole and made par on the 17th and 18th hole on Sunday to hold off runner-up Kiara Romero by a stroke. Helping Zhang along was a stretch of five pars in a row.

Romero played her final six holes at 1-under thanks to a clutch birdie on the 18th for a 75 but it wasn’t enough to catch Zhang.

Selena Tang was third at 153 after an 80. Three players—Bridget O’Keefe, Claire Chen and Jasmine Chen—finished T-4 at 156.

Boys’ First Flight winner Howard Shu, runner-up Brandon Knight and third place finisher Giuliano Kaminski (left to right)

In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Howard Shu shot a final round 71 to come in at 148, defeating runner-up Brandon Knight (149) by a shot.

Giuliano Kaminski was third at 151. Fourth place went to Connor Song at 153, while Andre Chung took fifth at 155.

Girls’ First Flight winner Joyce Zhang, runner-up Michelle Ho and third place finisher Amelia Gladys (left to right)

In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Joyce Zhang shot a final round 76 to come in at 146, defeating runner-up Michelle Ho (154) by six strokes.

Third place went to Amelia Gladys at 163. Fourth place went to Darla May Dela Torre at 166.

Next up on the JTNC calendar is the Spring Series V Championship, to be held April 27-28 at Darkhorse Golf Course in Auburn.

Spring Series III – Rancho Murieta CC

Nov 26, 2018Comments Off on Spring Series III – Rancho Murieta CCPast Results, Tournaments

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Pairings and tee times will be posted and available April 1st.

CIG-Sponsored Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Spring Series III Championship at Rancho Murieta Country Club in Rancho Murieta

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (April 8, 2019) – Sponsored by Capital Insurance Group, the 2018-2019 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Sunday at the Spring Series III Championship at Rancho Murieta Country Club in Rancho Murieta.

Ben Soicher shot 2-over 146 and Jaclyn LaHa shot 5-over 149 to win their respective divisions at the Spring Series III Championship held Saturday and Sunday at par-72 Rancho Murieta Country Club.

Boys’ Championship winner Ben Soicher, runner-up Zach Mate and third place finisher Zachery Pollo (left to right)

Soicher notched his first win of the 2018-2019 season thanks to solid play in Sunday’s final round. He’d go 4-under through his first 11 holes, giving himself enough cushion to hold off co-runners-up Zach Mate and Zachery Pollo by a shot.

In Saturday’s opener, Soicher posted two birdies en route to a 75. Mate had a chance to tie Soicher but bogeyed the 18th on Sunday for a 71. Pollo also had a shot at the win but played his final four holes at 2-over. Mate earned second place following a card-off (low back-nine score).

Fourth place went to Jonathan Le at 152 after a 77. Patrick Dumag was fifth at 157 following a 77.

Girls’ Championship winner Jaclyn LaHa, runner-up Claire Chen and third place finisher Kiana Briggs (left to right)

In the Girls’ Championship, LaHa ran away with a comfy nine-stroke win thanks to solid play each day.

In Saturday’s opener, she’d post three birdies en route to a 75. A day later, LaHa carded two more birdies on her way to a 74.

Claire Chen finished second at 158 following a 77. Third place was a tie between Kiana Briggs and Madison Pineda at 159 following final rounds of 78 and 83, respectively. Briggs earned third place following a card-off. Fifth place went to Kaylyn Noh at 161.

Boys’ First Flight winner Al Esguerra, runner-up Trent Vink and third place finisher Matthew Almajano (left to right)

In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Al Esguerra shot a final round 77, thanks to a birdie at No.15, to come in at 162 and hold off co-runners-up Trent Vink and Matthew Almajano by a stroke. Vink and Almajano both closed with 80’s.

Alexander Suen was fourth at 164, while Colton Hunt took fifth at 165.

Girls’ First Flight winner Riley Yang, runner-up Michelle Ho and third place finisher Belinda Sutikto (left to right)

In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Riley Yang shot a final round 85 to come in at 171, defeating runner-up Michelle Ho by three shots. Ho shot a final round 88.

Third place went to Belinda Sutikto at 177, with Carolyn Liu placing fourth at 181. Audrey Brust was fifth at 183.

Next up on the JTNC calendar is the Spring Series IV Championship, to be held April 13-14 at Franklin Canyon Golf Course in Hercules.

 

Spring Series II – Paso Robles GC

Nov 26, 2018Comments Off on Spring Series II – Paso Robles GCPast Results, Tournaments

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Pairings and tee times will be posted and available March 22.

 

CIG-Sponsored Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Spring Series II Championship at Paso Robles Golf Club in Paso Robles

 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (April 1, 2019) – Sponsored by Capital Insurance Group, the 2018-2019 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Sunday at the Spring Series II Championship at Paso Robles Golf Club in Paso Robles.

Garrett Boe shot 3-under 139 and Madelyn Gamble shot 5-over 147 to win their respective divisions at the Spring Series II Championship held Saturday and Sunday at par-71 Paso Robles Golf Club.

Boys’ Championship winner Garrett Boe, runner-up Ethan Chung and third place finisher Baron Szeto (left to right)

Boe claimed his first title of the 2018-2019 season thanks to a stellar 3-under 68 in Sunday’s second round. He’d post five birdies—four on the crucial back-nine—to go against just two bogeys to claim a three shot victory over runner-up Ethan Chung. In Saturday’s opener, Boe carded a 71.

Chung, the defending JTNC Boys’ Player of the Year, had rounds of 72-70.

Third place went to Baron Szeto at 144 after a 71. Curtis Dasilva and Jake Bettencourt tied for fourth at 146 after rounds of 72 and 73, respectively.

Girls’ Championship winner Madelyn Gamble and runner-up Faith Low (left to right)

In the Girls’ Championship, Madelyn Gamble posted solid rounds of 74-73 to earn a four-shot win over runner-up Faith Low. Gamble posted five birdies over her two rounds.

Low had rounds of 73-78.

Third place was a tie at 157 between three players—Divya Tadimeti, Selena Tang and Megan Yang. Tadimeti earned third place following a card-off.

Boys’ First Flight winner Luke Montoya, runner-up Jamison Tan and third place finisher Armaan Sahota (left to right)

In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Luke Montoya had a final round 72 to come in at 146, defeating runner-up Jamison Tan by five shots. Tan had rounds of 75-76.

Armaan Sahota took third at 152. Giuliano Kaminski was fourth at 153 and Alexander Suen was fifth at 158.

Girls’ First Flight winner Della Gunasayan, runner-up Gillian Galicia and third place finisher Riley Yang (left to right)

In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Bella Gunasayan shot 160 (79-81) to defeat runner-up Gillian Galicia by four shots. Galicia went 84-80.

Third place went to Riley Yang at 165. Fourth place went to Allison Yang at 168.

Next up on the JTNC calendar is the Spring Series III Championship, to be held April 6-7 at Rancho Murieta Country Club.

Spring Series I – Stockton GCC & Elkhorn GC

Nov 26, 2018Comments Off on Spring Series I – Stockton GCC & Elkhorn GCPast Results, Tournaments

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CIG-Sponsored Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Spring Series I Championship at Stockton Golf and Country Club and Elkhorn Golf Course in Stockton

 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (March 19, 2019) – Sponsored by Capital Insurance Group, the 2018-2019 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Sunday at the Spring Series I Championship at Stockton Golf and Country Club and Elkhorn Golf Course.

Oakdale resident Ryan Meyer shot 2-under 140 and Saratoga resident Sophie Zhang-Murphy shot 1-under 141 to win their respective divisions at the Spring Series I Championship held Saturday and Sunday at par-71 Stockton Golf and Country Club and Elkhorn Golf Course.

Boys’ Championship winner Ryan Meyer, runner-up Paramdeep Sodhi and third place finisher Sam Sommerhauser (left to right)

Meyer notched his first win of the 2018-2019 season after back-to-back solid rounds of 70. In Saturday’s opener, Meyer posted five birdies to offset two bogeys and a double-bogey. A day later, he’d card three birdies with two bogeys.

Paramdeep Sodhi of Folsom was second at 142 after a stellar second round 69. Sam Sommerhauser of Rocklin was third at 143.

Fourth place went to Reese Sato at 146 after a second round 69. Jake Bettencourt and Baron Szeto finished T-5 at 147.

Girls’ Championship winner Sophie Zhang-Murphy, runner-up Naomi Danner and third place finisher Katherine Sung (left to right)

In the Girls’ Championship, Zhang-Murphy ran away from the field for a 15 shot victory. In Saturday’s opener, Zhang-Murphy shot a 72 that featured 16 pars, a birdie and a double-bogey. A day later, she’d post three birdies to go against just one bogey.

Sunnyvale resident Naomi Danner and Palo Alto resident Katherine Sung both finished tied for second at 156 after final rounds of 80 and 78, respectively. Danner earned second place after a card-off.

Boys’ First Flight winner Jamison Tan, runner-up Alexander Suen and third place finisher Maddox Yi (left to right)

In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Jamison Tan shot a final round 77 to come in at 156 and defeated Alexander Suen on the first playoff hole for the win. Suen had rounds of 81-75.

Third place went to Maddox Yi at 158. Fourth place went to Howard Shu at 159 and fifth place went to Nicholas Mouser at 163.

Girls’ First Flight winner Camille Thai, runner-up Aleythia Hinds and third place finisher Olivia Duan (left to right)

In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Camille Thai shot a first round to come in at 159, holding on for a one-shot win over Aleythia Hinds. Hinds finished at 160 after a final round 81.

Third place went to Olivia Duan at 162, with Michelle Woo placing fourth at 163. Taylor Baik was fifth at 165.

Next up on the JTNC calendar is the Spring Series II Championship, to be held March 30-31 at Paso Robles Golf Course.

Challenge Cup Set to Return to Poppy Hills Jan. 3-4

Nov 19, 2018Comments Off on Challenge Cup Set to Return to Poppy Hills Jan. 3-4Featured

November 19, 2018

Challenge Cup Set to Return to Poppy Hills Jan. 3-4

The best of Northern California are set to take on the best of Southern California again.

Come Jan. 3-4, the fourth annual Challenge Cup will return to Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach. The Cup features 12 members (eight boys, four girls) of the CIG-sponsored Junior Tour of Northern California taking on 12 players from the Southern California Junior Tour in a Ryder Cup-like format.

Last year, the JTNC took a 2-1 lead in the series with a dominating 17-7 victory.

But there’s much more to the Cup than just the regional rivalry. For the juniors, the Cup provides a rare opportunity to compete not only in a team format but also in match play.

The 2017 JTNC and SoCal teams

“I like that it’s a team format. Everything else I play in is an individual tournament so it’s a new experience,” said Mika Jin at the 2017 event. “It’s fun too to get to meet the players from SoCal. It’s fun to compare your games.”

The Cup also has become a scouting hot spot for coaches from collegiate programs such as UCLA, University of Oregon, Cal, Stanford and New Mexico State.

Play on Thursday, Jan.3 will consist of nine holes of Foursomes and nine holes of Four-Ball. Friday’s (Jan. 4) action will feature the Singles matches.

The four girls who’ll tee it up for the JTNC are:

Mika Jin—A returner from 2017, Jin is a two-time winner this season (Fall Series VI and IX Championships)

Danielle Suh—Like Jin, Suh is a two-time champion this season, having won the Fall Series I and II titles.

Jasmine Chen—Along with winning the Fall Series III Championship, Chen placed T-3 at the Fall Series IX Championship.

Jacqueline Lucena—A high school senior, Lucena has three Top 10’s, including a victory at the Fall Series VII Championship.

 

The eight JTNC boys will be:

Dylan McDermott—McDermott has four Top 5’s including victories at the Fall Series II and IV Championships.

Sebastian Iqbal—Iqbal has a win at the Fall Series IX Championship and a runner-up finish at the Fall Series VII Championship.

Lucas Carper—Along with a win at the Fall Series VI Championship, Carper has two-runner-ups (Fall Series IV and IX Championships).

Sam Sommerhauser—Sommerhauser has three runner-up finishes on the season (Fall Series I, II and IV Championships).

Connor Motherway—Motherway has four Top 5 finishes this season, including a win at the Fall Series I Championship.

Caleb Shetler—Shetler won the Fall Series VII Championship and was T-2 at the Fall Series V Championship.

Jackson Koivun—Koivun has placed in the Top 3 twice, at the Fall Series III and VI Championships.

George McNeely—McNeely, who had a breakout season last year, was runner-up at the Fall Series VI Championship.

 

Southern California PGA Junior Tour Roster

Girls

Sherilyn Villanueva-Anaheim

Serena Sepersky – Temecula

Kamille Dimayuga-Buena Park

Jasmine Koo-Cerritos

Boys

Clay Seeber-Newport Beach

Guy Clauss-Newport Beach

Joseph Chun-Irvine

Ian Maspat –San Diego

Johnny Walker-Riverside

Lincoln Melcher-Burbank

Caden Fioroni-San Diego

Sebastian Vallejo-Long Beach

 

JTNC’s Matthew Sutherland, Yena Jang Shine at PURE Insurance Championship

Oct 1, 2018Comments Off on JTNC’s Matthew Sutherland, Yena Jang Shine at PURE Insurance ChampionshipFeatured

With 16 Junior Tour of Northern California players in the field of 81 juniors at the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship, the odds were pretty good that more than one player from one of the local area’s First Tee chapters would feature among the top finishers in the event.

As Sunday’s final round wound up, two JTNC players were among three who were tied for the lead. JTNC player Matthew Sutherland of Carmichael and La Quinta’s Caroline Wales were already in the clubhouse at 16-under 199 while Roseville’s Yena Jang, from The First Tee of Greater Sacramento, had nine holes left to play—and an opportunity to take the lead.

The 16-year-old high school senior wants to study marine biology in college, but she obviously wasn’t distracted by the marine life and coastal views as she posted two rounds of 68 at Pebble Beach (net best ball with her pro, Duffy Waldorf) Friday and Sunday, and a 63 at Poppy Hills on Saturday.

A key moment in her final round was her birdie on #8, the notorious par-4 that features a second shot over a cliff above the crashing Pacific surf. Her pro partner, Duffy Waldorf, hit a low, hard-running tee shot that ran a little too far, and ended up going over the cliff.

Yena’s tee shot landed in perfect position in the fairway, and she stiffed her approach shot hole-high, about 20 feet left of the center flag.

“I know that when he was in trouble I was just trying to save par, because I didn’t want to go over on my round. They helped me read my line and then it just went in. It was really big. It was cool.”

Coming down the stretch, Jang knew that she was tied with Sutherland and Wales, and she knew what she had to do to pull out the win. Just one birdie or better, in the final stretch (and no bogeys, of course) would have pulled out the win for her. It didn’t happen, but the Roseville youngster was very sanguine about the result:

“I knew, and I tried really hard to make birdie (on 18), but I hit it past, but it’s OK. And then my pro (Duffy Waldorf) wasn’t having the best putting day, either. He had a lot of birdie chances but they weren’t going in. I had a couple of birdie putts that lipped out, I had a sand shot that went into the hole and went back out. Things like that.”

The junior competition came down to a three-way tie, based on final score, and was decided by a scorecard playoff, backwards from 18; that is, the three players’ scores on the 18th hole were compared, and the player with the best cumulative score on the hole would win; if their scores on the hole were identical, their scores on 17 would be evaluated, and so on.

Matthew Sutherland’s net 2-under on 18 put him in first place. Wales and Jang’s finishes came down to their play on the 16th hole over three days, with Wales taking second on the strength of a net 3-under to Jang’s par.

Sutherland, who also plays for the First Tee of Greater Sacramento, knew what the picture was as he and his pro partner, and uncle, Kevin Sutherland, were closing out their round.

“I’ve got to be honest, me and Kevin were talking, we didn’t make birdie on the par-5 fourteenth, and we were thinking we’re going to need to make some birdies coming down the stretch. At that point I think we were tied or one back of the lead. Kevin ended up birdying 15. We made a couple of good pars on 16 and 17, and ended up (parring 18). We put up a low number in the morning and it just held up.”

“The bottom line is, it’s not about who wins out here, it’s about the experience that all these kids and myself have had, and I think that’s probably the most important part about all this.”

Playing the event was a special experience for Sutherland, and especially sharing it with his uncle Kevin, a Sacramento native and Fresno State grad who has played in the PGA Tour and Champions Tour since 1992.

“He was a great partner, he stayed focused, he kept me in line. It’s been one of the best weeks of my life, for sure, whether or not I’m taking home a trophy.”

 

JTNC Players Have Shined at PURE Insurance Championship

Sep 26, 2018Comments Off on JTNC Players Have Shined at PURE Insurance ChampionshipFeatured

September 26, 2018

Keep an eye on players from the Junior Tour of Northern California at this weekend’s PGA Tour Champions PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee.

In the Pro-Junior portion of the championship, the JTNC has proven to be a force.

In 2011, then JTNC member Casie Cathrea won the Pro-Junior title with partner Ben Crenshaw. Two years later in 2013, Michelle Xie of Palo Alto won the Pro-Junior playing with Kirk Triplett. Another two years later in 2015, JTNC member Jack Avrit won the title competing with the ‘Prince of Pebble Beach’—record five-time AT&T Pro-Am winner Mark O’Meara (pictured).

Coincidentally, this year Avrit’s younger brother, Owen, will be playing with O’Meara.

There was also Josh McCarthy’s close call at the 2014 First Tee Open. While McCarthy and partner Peter Senior appeared to have the title won, The First Tee of Tucson’s Christopher Meyers pulled off one of the greatest shots on the historic 18th hole at Pebble Beach—by any player, he’d make a double-eagle from 203 yards out—to give him and pro partner Lee Janzen the victory.

When this year’s First Tee Open gets underway Friday at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course, a total of 16 JTNC members will have a chance at hoisting a trophy at Pebble Beach. Here’s the 16 who’ll be hoping to hoist the trophy on Sunday.

Angelica Antonio–First Tee of Greater Contra Costa

Owen Avrit–First Tee of Central Coast

William Bensch–First Tee of San Joaquin

Courtney Cervellin–First Tee of Greater Sacramento

Yena Jang–First Tee of Greater Sacramento

Linette Jun–First Tee of Silicon Valley

Calton Kang–First Tee of Silicon Valley

Erica Lam–First Tee of Silicon Valley

Nthenya Maithya–First Tee of Central Valley

Skyer May–First Tee of San Joaquin

Isabelle O’Brien–First Tee of Contra Costa

Hailey Salomone–First Tee of Contra Costa

Matthew Sutherland–First Tee of Greater Sacramento

Dylan Van Ostrand–First Tee of Greater Sacramento

Jack Wright–First Tee of Fresno

Kelly Yu–First Tee of Fresno

Ethan Chung, Yealimi Noh 2017-2018 JTNC Players of the Year

Aug 2, 2018Comments Off on Ethan Chung, Yealimi Noh 2017-2018 JTNC Players of the YearFeatured

Boys’ Player of the Year

Ethan Chung had one goal in mind all season—win Player of the Year honors.

The 16-year-old did it in dramatic fashion, showing off his determination along the way.

Entering the season-ending Tour Championship, Chung needed at least a Top 10 finish to pass Alamo’s Ryan Grauman in the standings. To make things  more intriguing, Chung, who formerly lived in Cupertino, had since moved to Murrieta, about an hour north of San Diego.

He’d make the trip to Poppy Hills for the championship, placing ninth. By virtue of his finish, he’d end the season with 1,995 points, eclipsing Grauman by just two points in what was the closest Player of the Year race in JTNC history. Grauman took second at 1,993, with Saratoga’s Caleb Shetler placing third at 1,448.

“Winning Player of the Year was my goal the entire season,” Chung said. “When I knew I still had a chance at it I wanted to come back and play.”

During the season, Chung had three wins (Fall Series VI, Fall Series VIII, Spring Series III championships) along with three runner-ups and a third place finish.

His victory at the Fall Series VI was his first on the JTNC circuit.

“Once I got that first win it was a sigh of relief,” Chung said. “I was confident after that. Winning Player of the Year is such an honor.”

 

Girls’ Player of the Year

Concord resident Yealimi Noh was already in the mix for the Player of the Year honors.

Then, the Summer of Yealimi happened.

Noh, 17, caught fire late in the season, winning both the California Junior Girls’ State Championship and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Poppy Hills—along with just about everything else—to earn her first Girls’ Player of the Year title with a total of 2,600 points.

Finishing in second place was Mika Jin of Fremont at 2,303. Danielle Suh of San Ramon was third at 2,058, while record four-time Player of the Year Sabrina Iqbal (who’s now playing at Texas Christian University) was fourth at 2,046.

“It means a lot to finally get Player of the Year,” Noh said.  “I’ve come in second many times so it feels great. I’ve lost count of how many NCGA, JTNC  events I’ve played and they have really improved my game and got me to where I am today.”

Other wins for Noh, who’s home-schooled and is eyeing turning pro in late 2019, came at the Fall Series IV, Fall Series VII and Summer Series I championships.  She also picked up points for her victory at the PGA Girls Junior, where she set the championship record with a 72-hole score of 24-under 264.

Still eligible for another season on the Junior Tour, Noh’s wins moved her to second place on the all-time JTNC Girls’ NorCal majors win list. She’s now at 19 wins, having passed former standout Casie Cathrea. Iqbal is the all-time leader with 29 victories.

 

 

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