The 2022 Nationwide Automobile Rental PGA Jr. League Championship got here all the way down to Staff North Carolina and Staff California, with the youngsters from the Tar Heel state popping out on prime, 7 ½ to 4 ½.
North Carolina earned its first win within the occasion, with the duo of John John Santospago, 13, of Charlotte, and Miles Russell, 13, of Pinehurst, clinching the title on the seventeenth gap.
Taking part in 332 yards, the drivable par 4 proved to be the pivotal spot at Grayhawk Golf Membership in Scottsdale, Arizona. Santospago drove the inexperienced whereas Russell’s tee shot got here up wanting the inexperienced. However the duo selected to play from Russell’s spot, which meant chipping on, as an alternative of a downhill putt from about 60 toes away.
“We thought with the wedge shot we had, we might put that nearer than the putt,” Russell stated. “With the putt, the very best we might have performed was 10 toes at greatest coming down that mound. The wedge shot was fairly easy.”
Davis Wotnosky of Staff North Carolina hits his shot on the 18th gap through the first spherical of the 2022 Nationwide Automobile Rental PGA Jr. League Championship at Grayhawk Golf Membership in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Picture: Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
After chipping on, Santospago poured in a three-foot putt for birdie, whereas California’s Kenyon Kahler, 13, and Mia Clausen, 12, each of Carlsbad, couldn’t match.
Staff Florida received the third-place match, 8 ½ to three ½ over Staff Illinois. Staff Utah, which one the occasion in 2021, got here in fifth. Utah’s workforce featured Tony Finau’s son, Jraice, 10, and nephew, Jordan Ofahengaue, 12.
The PGA of America experiences that about 70,000 girls and boys are concerned within the PGA Jr. League.
“This can be a nice occasion,” stated Finau. “I used to be actually blown away by the manufacturing and presentation of all of it. That is one thing that my son will certainly play sooner or later, and hopefully, we may have that chance subsequent yr.”
The Raptor Course at Grayhawk would be the web site of the 2023 NCAA Championships in Could for a 3rd yr in a row however this was the ultimate yr for the PGA Jr. League Championship on the venue after six occasions, as it should transfer to the PGA of America’s Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas.
Remaining standings
- Staff North Carolina (Charlotte)
- Staff California (Encinitas)
- Staff Florida (Orlando)
- Staff Illinois (Lemont)
- Staff Utah (Lehi)
- Staff Texas (Farmers Department)
- Staff Oklahoma (Damaged Arrow)
- Staff Minnesota (Blaine)
- Staff Connecticut (Torrington)
- Staff New Jersey (Haworth)
- Staff Pennsylvania (West Mifflin)
- Staff New York (Saratoga Springs)
The 2022 Nationwide Automobile Rental PGA Jr. League Championship at Grayhawk Golf Membership in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Picture: Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Previous champions
- 2022: North Carolina
- 2021: Utah
- 2020: No occasion, canceled as a consequence of COVID
- 2019: Georgia
- 2018: California
- 2017: Georgia
- 2016: California
- 2015: California
- 2014: California
- 2013: Georgia
- 2012: California
Final Thursday, previous to the occasion teeing off, the PGA of America hosted a Nationwide Automobile Rental Welcome Get together which included a panel moderated by ESPN’s Michael Collins and Colt Knost from CBS Sports activities in addition to Finau, Michelle Wie West and Stanford sophomore and World Beginner No. 1 Rose Zhang.