Junior Golf Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners at Summer Series III Championship at Spring Creek Golf & Country Club
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (July 18, 2023) –The 2022-2023 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions Monday during the Summer Series III Championship at Spring Creek Golf & Country Club in Ripon.
Ellie Bushnell and JJ Scott both had nail biting finishes versus their competitors to eventually win their respective flights during the Summer Series III Championship at Spring Creek Golf & Country Club this past Sunday and Monday.
In the Boy’s Championship flight, JJ Scott picked up his first winners medal on the Junior Tour for the 2022-2023 season. Recently committed to Dominican University, the Windsor talent posted identical rounds of 2-under 69 and capped off his weekend with a total of eight birdies over 36 holes. Scott would seal the championship with two birdies on the final five holes, holding off a surging Kyler Heath by one stroke. Kyler Heath finished second in the Boy’s Championship flight with a final score of 3-under 139, carding a dominant round on Sunday where he carded a 2-under 69 that included an outstanding tally of seven birdies.
Third place went to Ian Cheng of Roseville, coming in at 143 after rounds of 72-71, Cheng had a superb final thirteen holes going 3-under par to finish ahead of fourth place Henry Chen. Summer Series III is Cheng’s first time earning a medal for the 2022-2023 JTNC season.
Fourth place was awarded to Henry Chen who shot 69-75 over the weekend, missing out on a championship medal by one shot.
In the Girls’ Championship flight, Ellie Bushnell of Granite Bay won her first JTNC event of the 2022-23 season via a playoff versus Erica Villegas, Bushnell carded back-to-back rounds of 72 to finish at even par 144. The playoff only needed one hole to be settled, with Bushnell in the fairway off the tee and Villegas a tad wayward and left with her tee shot, forcing her to lay-up with her second shot into the green. Bushnell’s second shot could not have been placed any better as she landed her approach within five feet of the pin, and ultimately draining her birdie putt for the win! Bushnell posted seven birdies during the 36-hole event, she got off to a fast start on day one, going 2-under through the first ten holes. Erica Villegas was the eventual second place medalist after losing out in the playoff, Villegas made a late push on day two after carding a 2-under 70. Villegas had scores of 74-70 that included eight birdies and a three-shot lead over the next closest competitor, Tavia Burgess.
Tavia Burgess placed third after posting a 74-73 147, placing in the top three for the first time during the 2022-2023 JTNC season and earning a medal. Fourth place went to Michelle Wang at 12-over par who posted rounds of 78-78.
In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, Julian Koehler had repeat rounds of 76 (152 total) as a card-off afforded him the honors of being awarded a winners medal for the first time this season! This is Koehler’s first time breaking in to the top three spots at any event this season, with his closest attempt coming at the Mother’s Day Frist Flight Tournament hosted by Del Monte Golf Course, where he finished fourth. Koehler’s final round of 76 was the difference as this separated him from Nakul Shrivastava when it came to the tie-breaker. Shrivastava, from San Ramon, shot 70-82 152 to earn second place after the card-off with Koehler. This is also Shrivastava’s first medal honors for the 2022-2023 JTNC season, chalking up eight birdies over the course of the tournament and beating out third place by two shots.
Third place went to Nicky Eisentraut at 154, carding rounds of 75-79 that would reward him his first spot on the podium this season. In fourth at 157 was Duncan Kachalia, who carded four birdies during Sunday’s round.
In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Lily Stern wins first place with rounds of 78-88, triumphing over her next closest competitor by three shots. Lily accomplishes her first win of the 2022-2023 JTNC season, having never previously placed in a medal spot this surely should boost confidence in her game. Second place went to Kristen Tang of San Jose, coming in at 83-86 and finishing five shots better than third place. Tang’s highlights came when she birdied holes #6 and #12 during play on day one of the championship. Third place was decided by a card-off between McKynlee May and Danica Hidayat, where Hidayat earned the spot after her second-round total of 89 was sufficient to earn her third place over May. Both Hidayat and May ended the event with a total score of 174.
Hole-in-one highlight (pictured above) McKynlee May aced the par-3 12th during play of Monday’s round! With the pin tucked in the back left corner, she used the slope on the right half of the green to funnel her shot perfectly towards the hole resulting in quite a memorable moment for her and the spectators watching.
The next event on the JTNC calendar is the JTNC Tour Championship to be held at Poppy Hills Golf Course on July 24-25.
Media Contacts:
Kurtis Bettencourt
Northern California Golf Association
831.622.8294 | kbettencourt@ncga.org