NCGA Junior Tour
The NCGA’s new Junior Tour got off to a great start last weekend at Poppy Hills.
NCGA Junior Tour-Monterey
March 8-9, 2008
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Results and Scorecards:
Boys 12-13
Boys 14-15
Boys 16-18
Girls 12-14
Girls 15-18
PEBBLE BEACH – The new NCGA Junior Tour kicked off a scheduled seven event tournament series with its inaugural championship Saturday and Sunday. The Monterey tournament was played at Poppy Hills with competition spanning five age-division flights. The Junior Tour is part of a new commitment by the NCGA and NCGA Foundation to provide competitive opportunities for kids.
The overall champions were Mathew Miller of Pleasanton, who won in a two-hole playoff over Boys 16-18 flight champion Patrick Grimes, and Tessa The of Los Altos, whose final round, two-under-par 70 was a 15-stroke improvement over her first round. The was runner up in the 2007 NCGA Junior Championship at Lake Merced. The two champions often caddy for each other when not competing in the same event.
In the Girls 12-14 flight, Hannah Suh of San Jose came from behind in the final round to win by one shot over Briana Mao of Folsom. Suh turned in a final round 75 to overtake first-round leader Mariko Yamaguch Tumangan of San Jose, who finished third. Bonnie Hu of Fremont took the title by two strokes over Julie Shutler of Manteca in the Girls 15-18 flight. Hu’s 162 total featured consistent rounds of 80 and 82. There was a three-way tie for third.
The Boys 12-13 flight saw Carlos Briones of San Lorenzo grab a two-stroke win over Christopher Petefish of Danvile. Briones and Petefish started the final round in a tie, but Briones’ three-over 75 proved the difference. Jason Kuo of Milpitas was third. Luke Vivolo came from three shots back to win the Boys 14-15 flight. Vivolo’s final round, one-under 71 propelled him to a three- stroke win over first round leader Kraig McLeod of Pebble Beach. Travis Rowney of Pleasanton finished third. And in the Boys 16-18 flight, Patrick Grimes captured first place by two strokes via a final-round 71. Grimes was closely followed by first-round leader Michael Weaver of Fresno and third place finisher Daniel Corvig of Modesto.
The NCGA Junior Tour’s next event will be played in the Central Valley, at Stevinson Ranch next weekend, March 15-16.
Overall champions Tessa The and Mathew Miller
Girls 12-14 flight champion Hannah Suh, runner
up Briana Mao and third-place winner Mariko
Yamaguch Tumangan.
Girls 15-18 champion Bonnie Hu, runner-up Julie
Shutler and third place finishers Kercia Brakel, Emily
Chiu and Daniela Okino.
Boys 12-13 flight champion Carlos Briones, runner-
up Christopher Petefish and third-place finisher
Jason Kuo.
Boys 14-15 flight champion Luke Vivolo, runner-
up Kraig McLeod and third-place finisher
Travis Rowney.
Boys 16-18 flight champion Patrick Grimes, runner
up Micheal Weaver and third-place finisher Daniel
Covrig.
This tournament was great. It was a delightful start of the NCGA Juinor Tour. The tournament felt like a tour event because of all of the volunteers and professionals helping out. The pace of play policy was emphazied alot during the weekend. The field was also strong with all of the great players of Northern California. The venue was absolutely stunning while playing along the Monterey Peninsula. Great start at a new future in golf. Congrats!
March 13th, 2008 at 8:22 pmThanks for your feedback Beau, we look forward to building on the success of the first event.
Hilary Howard
March 14th, 2008 at 4:32 pmDirector of Communications and Marketing
I have to agree with Beau…the tournament was run very well. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the tournament, I was very impressed!
March 14th, 2008 at 9:39 pm