Having captured a national title three years ago, it was no surprise for undefeated Team California (San Diego 4-0-0) to clinch the Ryder Division title Sunday at the 7th PGA Jr. League Championship presented by National Car Rental at Grayhawk Golf Club.
Following a strong win of 10-2 against Washington, California defeated Team Ohio in the afternoon, 8-4.
Team California’s Ryan Abuan, 14, of Temecula; and Phillip Kench, 14, of Del Mar, each came within a whisker on their final hole Sunday afternoon of carding a birdie on all nine holes against Team Ohio. Instead, Abuan and Kench settled for eight straight birdies, one par and a starring role in helping Team California secure the top spot in the Ryder Division.
“I really wanted that putt on the last hole,” Kench said of narrowly missing a 15-foot downhill putt for a ninth birdie. “We just each burned the edge on both sides.”
An undefeated sleeper team in Team Minnesota (Blaine 4-0-0) caught virtually everyone by surprise in clinching the Wanamaker Division title. The two divisional champions are scheduled to face off Monday afternoon at 1:50 p.m. MT for the national title on the Raptor Blue Course (back nine).
Ohio (Columbia Station 2-1-1) and Louisiana (Shreveport 2-1-1) will go head-to-head this morning for the right to face either Texas (Montgomery 3-1-0) or Georgia (Duluth 2-1-1) in the third place match on Monday afternoon.
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Story by PGA of America
