SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The 2022 National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship trophy goes to Carolina for the very first time.
Before a nationally televised viewers on ESPNU, No. 2 seed Team North Carolina (Charlotte) defeated No. 4 seed Team California (Encinitas) 7 ½ to 4 ½ in the match-play championship closing on Sunday at breathtaking Grayhawk Golf Course.
While North Carolina celebrated its first-ever Championship on the closing gap with a water bottle bathe, it was the clutch efficiency of John John Santospago, 13, of Charlotte, and companion Miles Russell, 13, of Pinehurst, on their match’s penultimate gap that clinched the nationwide title.
Opting for an uphill chip on No. 17 (eighth of 9 holes performed) versus a 60-foot downhill putt after Russell drove the inexperienced–after which some—on the 322-yard, par 4, the pair displayed a excessive degree after all administration.
“We thought with the wedge shot we had, we could put that closer than the putt,” Russell mentioned. “With the putt, the best we could have done was 10 feet at best coming down that mound. The wedge shot was pretty simple.”
Next, a easy three-footer by Santospago and a make-or-break missed putt by California’s Kenyon Kahler, 13, and Mia Clausen, 12, each of Carlsbad, was sufficient for North Carolina to quickly take pleasure in a SportsCenter celebration second with ESPN’s Michael Collins.
“These eight individual golfers came as a group, played strong, so they were my Great Eight, and took me over the top, and got us to the finish line,” mentioned North Carolina Coach Brent Reneau, PGA.
North Carolina and California superior to the Championship match after Sunday morning’s riveting semifinals.
North Carolina performed No. 3 seed Team Florida (Orlando), which ended at 6-6 and got here right down to the first scorecard tiebreaker of holes received. A single-hole benefit helped North Carolina advance to the championship match, 11 holes to Florida’s 10.
“That was a nailbiter,” defined Reneau.
In the different semifinal, two-time Champions Team California narrowly defeated top-seeded Team Illinois (Lemont) 6 ½ to five ½.
It was the California dynamic duo of 13-year-olds Anna Fang, of San Diego, and Kaden Chang, of Carlsbad, who clinched a spot in the Championship closing, accentuated on Hole No. 18 with a dramatic chip shot from 15-yards off the inexperienced. The shot landed 5 ft in need of the inexperienced and finally rolled two-feet away, primarily sealing California’s berth into the championship match.
With blue ribbons on their hats and ideas for these impacted by Hurricane Ian, Team Florida took care of business in the third place match Sunday, defeating Team Illinois 8 ½ to three ½.
“We were pumped to take third,” mentioned Team Florida Coach Cori McAuliffe.
With a report 70,000 girls and boys taking part in PGA Jr. League, it has attracted nationwide consideration. Defending Champion Team Utah (Lehi) featured each PGA Tour star Tony Finau’s son, Jraice, 10, and nephew, Jordan Ofahengaue, 12. Utah completed in fifth.
“This is a great event,” mentioned Finau. “I was really blown away by the production and presentation of it all. This is something that my son will definitely play in the future, and hopefully, we will have that opportunity next year!”
Team Texas (Farmers Branch) completed in the sixth spot. Team Oklahoma (Broken Arrow) got here in seventh, adopted so as by Team Minnesota (Blaine), Team Connecticut (Torrington), Team New Jersey (Haworth), Team Pennsylvania (West Mifflin) and Team New York (Saratoga Springs).
Next 12 months, the occasion shifts to PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas, web site of the new “Home of the PGA of America.”
SOURCE The PGA of America
