Pairings | Results
Championship and Semifinal matches- June 26, 2025
It was a marathon finish to the 75th California Junior Girls State Championship at The Peninsula Golf and Country Club in San Mateo.
A finish that NCGA Hall of Famer & championship founder Helen Lengfeld would be proud of on her birthday.
Milpitas native Michelle Woo sank a 30-foot putt on the 20th hole as she outlasted Murrieta, Calif. native Fay Jia in the championship match.
"I did not expect to make that putt at all," Woo said. "I was trying to get the putt as close as I could and these greens are angulated but I was really happy that the putt went in."
Woo who had not played in this championship since 2022 said that playing against a good friend in Jia eased the pressure of playing for a state title.
"It made it a lot better because we were able to talk in between shots and it eased everything up a lot," Woo said. "It was a really fun match playing against her."
Jia ended Tuesday night with a chip-in birdie on the sixth playoff hole to earn the last spot in the Round of 16.
She played over 100 holes this week which almost resulted in her becoming the first Southern California native to win the event since 2017.
"I am really glad I got to play in match play," Jia said. "Michelle is so fun to play with and I am super happy for her."
Jia is proud of her effort as she played over 100 holes this week in San Mateo. She feels like this will build her confidence heading into her sophomore year in high school.
"I think this one shows how much I have improved," Jia said. "A year ago, I would not have the strength to push through but mentally and physically I have improved so much."
The day started with Woo getting a 4 and 3 win over Jayden Peters in the semifinal match. Woo got her lone birdie on the par-4 sixth hole.
Jia went the distance again in her semifinal match versus Madalynn Lee. She closed that match out with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole which resulted in a 2 up victory.
In the championship match, conditions were tough with the wind picking up in the Bay Area. The lone birdie in regulation came from Jia who birdied the par-4 14th hole.
Jia came to the short par-4 17th hole holding a 1 up lead. She drove her tee shot on the green.
However, Jia putted her eagle put off the green. She said that was her lone mistake of the day.
"I blasted that putt over the green somehow," Jia said. "That was my biggest mistake of the day."
Both girls made par on the 18th hole which sent the match into extra holes.
The action switched back to the front nine where both girls bogeyed on the par-4 1st hole which served as the 19th hole in the championship.
Jia and Woo both hit perfect drives on the par-4 2nd hole. Jia's approach shot just came short of the green on the fringe while Woo's second shot found the green but was 30 feet short.
That is when Woo hit the putt of her life and punched her ticket to the 2025 U.S. Girls Junior Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.
This will be Fremont native's second USGA tournament of the year after she played into the Round of 16 with partner Michelle Ho in the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Southern Hills back in May.
For the future California Golden Bear, the U.S. Girls Junior Championship will be her final junior golf event before starting her collegiate career.
She wants to soak in the experience in Atlanta with her parents who walked every step in her championship triumph on Thursday.
"It is so nice having my parents by my side," Woo said. "I have been playing junior golf for 10 years and have been at all my tournaments and it is really special to have them here and watch me win my last one."
Day 3- June 25, 2025
A young girl's dream will be realized on Thursday afternoon.
We have reached the final four in the 75th California Junior Girls State Championship in San Mateo.
No. 16 seed Fay Jia, No. 4 seed Madalynn Lee, No. 7 seed Jayden Peters and No. 14 seed Michelle Woo will look to leave The Peninsula Golf and Country Club as a state champion.
Jia and Peters are looking to become the first girls from Southern California to win the California Junior Girls State Championship since Jade Siphomsay won in 2017.
Jia started her day with the biggest upset in the championship taking down defending champion Caroline Gao in the Round of 16, 2 and 1.
The Murrieta, Calif native who chipped in on the sixth playoff hole on Tuesday evening to make match play made three birdies in her match against Gao.
The marathon continued for Jia who punched her ticket to the semifinals with a 21 hole marathon match against Saratoga native Yu Bao.
Jia used her comeback gene again as she was two down with two holes to play in regulation.
Jia made back to back birdies on 16 and 17 to tie the match at all square against Bai who completed her freshman season at UC Davis.
At the end of 21 holes, Jia was relieved and excited that she will have a tee time on Thursday.
"I feel happy and tired," Jia said. "I made a couple of putts and did not give up and tried my best."
Jia will be taking on Milpitas native Madalynn Lee who had a smooth day in the 650.
Lee who finished her sophomore year in high school beat Oakland native Chelsie Chin, 2 and 1.
Her quarterfinal match against Joyce Zhang was an back and forth affair until the par-4 16th hole.
Lee made back to back birdies on the 16th and 17th hole and managed to par the par-5 18th hole which resulted in a 1 up victory for the Milpitas native.
"I never thought this would happen," Lee said. "I think my practice has paid off and I am really excited."
In her Round of 16 match, Peters took care of Grace Gao, 2 and 1.
Peters who will be starting her college journey at Manhattan University took down No. 15 seed Taylor Baker with a 1 up victory.
"It was very grueling out there," Peters said. "After hole 13, my body was going why did you go up the hill again but we made it through."
She will take on another Division I college bound golfer in Michelle Woo.
The Fremont native who will be driving up the East Bay to play at UC Berkeley eliminated No. 3 seed Hailey Kim, 2 and 1.
Woo got another 2 and 1 victory over Giana Grace Gunasayan in the quarterfinals. Woo got her lone birdie on the par-4 16th hole.
But, she was excited afterwards to make her second California Junior Girls State semifinal appearance in three years.
"It feels great after playing two matches today," Woo said. "This is a really big tournament in all of California and it feels nice knowing that I belong."
Thursday's action will see the semifinal and final matches at the Donald Ross design.
The semifinal matches will start on the first hole. The first semifinal match between Fay Jia and Madalynn Lee will tee off at 8 a.m. with the Jayden Peters/Michelle Woo match to follow at 8:10 a.m.
The 18-hole championship match will tentatively begin at 12:30 p.m.
Day 2- June 24, 2025
Caroline Gao continued her quest for history at The Peninsula Golf and Country Club on Tuesday.
The Milpitas, Calif. native got medalist honors at the stroke play portion of the 75th California Junior Girls State Championship.
Gao started her day on the back nine and needed birdie on the par-4 9th hole. She would hit her second shot to within a foot of the cup that would result in a tap in birdie.
"On the last hole, I hit my approach shot to a couple of inches," Gao said. "Honestly, the ability to make a birdie after a bogey meant the most to me."
She finished at 3-under par which was one clear of Cece Lewis. Lewis shot her second straight round of 1-under par 70 to get the second seed in match play.
Lewis and Gao were the only players to finish under par in stroke play.
However, the action did heat up late Tuesday afternoon as eight players were in a tie for 16th place at 8 over par.
After four playoff holes, Fay Jia and Erin Lee were both tied which resulted the par-5 18th hole becoming a makeshift par-3 from 150 yards.
On the sixth playoff hole, Jia was in the greenside rough when she was able to chip it in for birdie to end the marathon playoff.
Jia was relieved to get the last match play spot.
"I thought the playoff would end much sooner but Erin kept making putts," Jia said. "I was able to chip in and we did not have to walk down that hill anymore."
The Round of 16 and Quarterfinal matches take place on Wednesday in San Mateo starting on hole 1. The first match will be between Caroline Gao and Fay Jia at 8 a.m.
The quarterfinal matches will tentatively begin at 1 p.m. on the first hole.
Day 1
Diamonds are forever this week in San Mateo.
The 75th California Junior Girls State Championship began on Monday at The Peninsula Golf and Country Club.
79 girls are looking to join the likes of Christina Kim, Kathleen Scavo and Yealimi Noh who have won this prestigious championship.
The stroke play portion of the event started on Monday where only four players finished under par.
Defending champion Caroline Gao picked up where she left off last summer on the Monterey Peninsula.
Gao shot a 2-under 69 on the Donald Ross design. The Milpitas native who is set to enter high school this upcoming fall had four birdies on the back nine. She played the par 3 and par 5 holes on the course in 1-under par.
"I think the putting was the best part of my game," Gao said after her round. "My driver was consistent and my putting helped me saved those pars and make those birdie putts."
Gao is looking to become the fourth player to win consecutive California Junior Girls State Championships.
"I think a lot of people know I won last year," Gao said. "I am going to focus on my game and focus on this wonderful golf course."
It is a three-way tie for second place as Elsa Hsieh, Hailey Kim and Cece Lewis all posted rounds of 1-under 70.
Lewis made all three of her birdies on the front nine shared that she had no expectations coming into this week expect for one.
"I would love to make match play and make it as far as I can," Lewis said. "I wanted to play my best and shoot some low rounds hopefully."
When players started their round, they received a commemorative penny from tournament staff.
The penny honors NCGA Hall of Famer Helen Lengfeld who founded all of the California Women's Amateur Championships.
Lengfeld would hand out pennies at the start of each championship and told players to Play Well and Have Fun.
The location of this week's championship is meaningful considering The Peninsula Golf and Country Club was Lengfeld's home course.
Day 2 action begins at 8 a.m. with tee times taking place on first and 10th holes.
Tuesday's round will feature the final day of stroke play qualifying in San Mateo. The stroke play medalist will get receive the Margaret Pebbles Trophy on Tuesday evening
The field will also be cut as only the top 16 players in stroke play will advance to the Round of 16 match play portion on Wednesday afternoon.