Junior Tour of Northern California Crowns Winners During Fall Series III Championship at The Golf Club at Moffett Field
Fall Series III Pairings/Results
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (September 9, 2024) – The Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned winners during its 2024 Fall Series III Championship at The Golf Club at Moffett Field.
Samantha Chiou shot 8-under par while Ethan Cheng shot 4-under par to win their respective divisions at the Fall Series III Championship, playing at par-72 for the Boys division and par-73 for the Girls divisions at The Golf Club at Moffett Field.
Ethan Cheng picks up his first win of the 2024-2025 JTNC season thanks to a second round comeback, carding a 4-under 68 to jump up eight places on the leaderboard into 1st. During play of Saturday's opening round, Cheng posted a score of even par 72 putting together four birdies and eleven pars. On Sunday during play of round two, Cheng would need to make up two shots on the leaders to have any chance at a first place finish. Ethan went on to produce a commendable bogey free 68 with the most important birdie coming on the 36th, and final, hole of the tournament. Cheng ended the weekend with scores of 72 and 68 which included eight birdies, beating out his next closest competitor Ryan Pupach by one shot.
Ryan Pupach finished with rounds of 70 and 71 , notching a total of nine birdies over the 36-hole tournament to secure his second place finish. Third place ended in a three-way tie at 142 between Jacobus Brakkee, Jaxen Castillo, and Eli Weidmann. Ultimately it was Jaxen Castillo who would claim the final medal spot via a card-off between the three players, Castillo's final nine total of 34 was enough to see out Brakkee's final total of 35 for round two.
In the Girls’ Championship, Samantha Chiou earned her first winners medal of the 2024-2025 JTNC season where she won by four shots over the next closest competitor in her flight. Samantha displayed unrivaled composure throughout her two rounds as she carded back-to-back scores of 4-under par with an impressive tally of eleven birdies. Chiou's opening round was first-rate as she carded five birdies, twelve pars, and just one bogey. Samantha's score of 32 on her closing nine holes during round one was the highlight of the Girls Championship tournament, she now sits at 1st on the JTNC Girls' 2024-2025 Player of the Year Rankings. Runner-up went to Emma Wang of Palo Alto who finished at 4-under par 142, Emma carded eleven birdies over the weekend as well. Wang turned in scores of 72 and 70 as she went back-to-back rounds under par.
Third place went to Stevie Umali of San Francisco at 3-under 143, Umali also had two rounds of under par golf as she carded 72 and 71 with a total of eleven birdies. Fourth place resulted in a tie between Tiffany Chang and Madalynn Lee as the two players were level at 2-under par 144 at the conclusion of the 36-hole event.
In the Boys’ First Flight Championship, P.J. Clausing earned his second winners medal of the 2024-2025 JTNC season coming out victorious once again, with his most recent win coming at Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course during the First Flight IV Tournament. Clausing produced rounds of 74 and 75 which included eight birdies. Clausing is now ranked 6th on the JTNC Boys' 2024-2025 Player of the Year Standings; P.J. defeated runner-up Veer Bahl by three shots, Bahl finished the weekend at 8-over par 152, he had rounds of 80 and 72.
Third place ended with Tommy Sullivan being awarded the bronze medal, Sullivan carded in rounds of 76 and 78 including two birdies as he triumphed over the next closest competitor by just one shot.
In the Girls’ First Flight Championship, Audrey Yang had a final round 73 to come in at 150, defeating runner-up Danica Hidayat by fourteen shots. Yang put together six birdies over the weekend, allowing her to build a substantial lead over the Girls First Flight field. Yang had rounds of 73 and 77. Danica Hidayat's runners-up medal came with rounds of 79 and 85, carding one birdie and ending the tournament at 164.
Third place ended in a tie between Anna Le Nguyen and Irene Kim as the pair were tied at 167, ultimately it was Anna Le Nguyen who earned her spot on the podium via a card-off.