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May 14, 2020
The Junior Tour of Northern California is looking forward to the resumption of our season and having a great second half of the year. We want everyone to have a great time at our tournaments and certainly will do our best to make them as safe as possible. It is very important for all of us to follow these rules so that we will be able to continue to run events during these trying times.
Please Note – These guidelines are subject to change at any time. It is extremely important to read through the Player Information sheet and Local Rules for each event.
General Sanitation Guidelines for Participation in JTNC Events
Scorecard procedures
An electronic scorecard will be used for JTNC Tournaments, no paper scorecards will be available. Procedures:
Flagstick and Hole
Bunker Rakes
Starter Interaction and Material Distribution
Social Distancing Policies for Practice/Warm-Up (When available)
Food and Beverage
Spectators
Players or spectators that deliberately or repeatedly disregard these rules will be disqualified and or asked to leave property.
June 2, 2020
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, in an abundance of caution, the JTNC previously made the decision to suspend all scheduled competitions and events through June 1, 2020. While the safety and well-being of our players, volunteers and staff is always of the utmost importance to us, we will be resuming the season June 6. with the Summer Series I Championship at The Reserve at Spanos Park.
The season will resume with new guidelines and tournament procedures. You’ll want to know those procedures, which can be found here.
We thank you for your patience and support during this unprecedented time and will keep you informed on any further updates.
March 1, 2020
Junior Tour of Northern California member Emily Hou is a champion of the annual San Francisco City Championship.
The No.12 seeded Hou, a Junior Tour of Northern California member from San Ramon, got the win via a 3 and 2 victory over No.14 Andrea Gomez. Hou would follow in the footsteps of Dougherty High teammate Danielle Suh, who won the title in 2019.
“Danielle was one of the first people to text me after the match,” a smiling Hou said.
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.”
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.
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.
October 11, 2019
A pair of JTNC members will be at famed Augusta National Golf Club come April 5, 2020 for the Finals of the annual Drive, Chip and Putt Championship.
Both Howard Shu, of Saratoga, and Ethan Lien, of Cupertino, earned spots by winning at the Regional qualifier held at Chambers Bay. Shu won the Boys’ 14-15 Division with 155 points. Lien, meanwhile, won the Boys’ 12-13 division with a score of 156 points.
The two could end up being joined by yet another JTNC member. Riley Yang, of San Jose, was the first alternate in the Girls’ 14-15 division.
September 30, 2019
JTNC member Sam Sommerhauser has joined the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as a champion at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Sommerhauser, a 17-year-old senior at Whitney High in Rocklin and member of The First Tee of Greater Sacramento, won the Boys’ Pro-Junior title at the PGA Tour Champions PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee on Sunday with pro partner and winner Kirk Triplett after coming in with a 54-hole score of 23-under 192 (63-66-63).
Ashley Menne, a member of The First Tee of Phoenix and Youth on Course, won the Girls’ title with partner Tom Lehman with a score of 18-under 197 (64-68-65).
Fittingly, Sommerhauser finished with a tap-in in birdie on the par-5 18th after a huge drive.
“It was a great experience,” said Sommerhauser, who’s committed to University of Arizona. “I’m just thankful I got to play and played well.”
“What didn’t impress me about Sam?,” replied Triplett when asked about his partner. “He’s a fabulous player with a fabulous swing. He’s also got tremendous poise and has the ability to bounce back.”
Sommerhauser joins a list of other JTNC players who’ve captured the title: Matthew Sutherland (2018), Jack Avrit (2015), Michelle Xie (2013) and Casie Cathrea (2011).
Other JTNC members who made the cut at the PURE were Lauren Garces (T-9), defending Player of the Year Dylan McDermott (T-12) and Jasmin Krishna (T-14).
September 16, 2019
JTNC alum John Scott Senz won the Special Olympics of Northern California (SONC) 2019 Folsom Golf Regional Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Empire Ranch Golf Course.
Senz, who has now won this event three years in a row, shot a 75. Congrats John!
September 6, 2019
Don’t be surprised if a Junior Tour of Northern California player walks away with the Pro-Junior title at the upcoming PGA Tour Champions PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee.
The event, set to tee off Sept. 27-29 at Poppy Hills Golf Course and Pebble Beach Golf Links, has been a good luck charm for JTNC players.
Last year, Carmichael resident Matthew Sutherland (a member of The First Tee of Greater Sacramento) won the Pro-Junior crown playing with his uncle, former NCGA Amateur Match Play champ Kevin Sutherland.
Other JTNC winners have been:
There was also former JTNC Player of the Year Josh McCarthy’s close call at the 2014 First Tee Open. That year, McCarthy and partner Peter Senior appeared to have the title won. That is, until 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. Meyers is the only player EVER to win an official event at Pebble by holing out for double-eagle on 18.
***In a twist, this year’s event will feature both a Boys’ and Girls’ champion
JTNC players who’ll be in the field for this year’s Pro-Junior:
There is no admission fee to attend the PURE Championship, but spectators still need to register. For more info on the event and to register, please visit pureinsurancechampionship.com