2020 JTNC Challenge Cup Roster Named

Nov. 7, 2019

For Pairings and live results use the following link: Challenge Cup Results

One of the two teams will walk away with a lead in the overall series.

Come Jan.3-4, what will be the fifth annual Challenge Cup will get underway at Poppy Hills GC. The Challenge Cup is a two-day competition featuring 12 of the best JTNC players (eight boys, four girls) taking on 12 of the best from the PGA Southern California Junior Tour in a Ryder-Cup like format.

The series is tied at two wins apiece following the SCJT’s 14-10 last January, but it’s about more than just the scores. For the juniors, the Cup is a rare opportunity to not only play match play, but to compete as a team.

It’s the team component—along simply with the talent—that has made the Cup a hotbed for college coaches looking for their next stars.

“The Challenge Cup only just keeps growing in stature,” said JTNC Director Aaron Hartesveldt. “Now in its fifth year, it generates more and more excitement among the players, both from the North and South.”

Who’ll be representing the JTNC: (Stats as of Nov. 7)

Girls: 

Madelyn Gamble: The 2018-2019 Girls’ Player of the Year, Gamble had three wins, at the Fall Series IV, Spring Series II and Summer Series I Championships. The Pleasant Hill resident also had two runner-ups (Summer Series II, Holiday Series II) and was third at the Fall Series VI Championship.

Kiara Romero: Romero is a two-time winner already this season (Fall Series IV and VI Championships). Also has a third place finish at the Fall Series III and T-9 at the Fall Series V.

Andrea Gomez: Gomez won the Fall Series V Championship. She also was T-7 at the Fall Series IV and IX Championships.

Vani Karimanal: Karimanal has five top 5 finishes this season. She has two runner-ups (Fall Series II and III), a third at the Fall Series VI and fifth place finishes at the Fall Series VIII and IX Championships.

Boys: 

Dylan McDermott: The 2018-2019 Boys’ Player of the Year posted wins at the Fall Series II and IV Championships and later added a runner-up place finish at the annual NCGA Junior Championship. For extra measure, McDermott also had three third place finishes—Spring Series VI, Summer Series III and the Tour Championship.

Sam Sommerhauser: The winner of the Boys’ title at the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Te, Sommerhauser has two wins this season, at the Fall Series IV and IX Championships. Was runner-up in last year’s Player of the Year race.

Paramdeep Sodhi: The current leader in the 2019-2020 Player of the Year standings, Sodhi has a win at the Fall Series VI Championship. He also has two runner-ups at the Fall Series I and VII Championships. Also a T-3 (Fall Series IX) and a fifth (Fall Series IV).

Zachery Pollo: Pollo has a win at the Fall Series II Championship, and a pair of runner-up finishes at the Fall Series I and Fall Series VI Championships. Other highlights include a T-7 finish at the Fall Series IX and a T-9 at the Fall Series IV.

Ben Soicher: Soicher’s season includes a win at the Fall Series V and a T-6 at the Fall Series VI. He also reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship.

Baron Szeto: Szeto’s season features a win at the Fall Series VIII Championship and a third place finish at the Fall Series II. He also has a fifth place finish at the Fall Series I and a T-7 finish at the Fall Series IV.

Jackson Koivun: Koivun has a pair of runner-up finishes at the Fall Series II and III Championships.

Ryan Meyer: Meyer’s season includes a T-3 finish at the Fall Series IV Championship. He also placed T-2 at the NCGA Valley Amateur Championship.

Who’ll Be Representing the PGA Southern California Junior Tour

November 4, 2019

Concord resident and former JTNC Girls’ Player of the Year Yealimi Noh is now living the dream.

Still just 18, Noh, the winner of the 2018 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Poppy Hills, earned her 2020 LPGA Tour card by finishing third at the recent LPGA Qualifying Tournament. Noh shot 15-under 557 (69-69-66-77-67-69-71-69) in the grueling, eight-round event.

Having turned pro in 2019, her best finish this season was a second at the Cambria Portland Classic, where she Monday qualified as a non-member.

“I’m just really happy that I’m finally done and will get to play next year,” Noh said.