Highlights from the 2023 PGA WEST® Junior Championship

 

 

Sunny skies, fair temps, light breezes—the weather gods were smiling down on La Quinta for the return of the PGA WEST® Junior Championship held June 20-23 on the PGA WEST® Nicklaus Tournament Course. 

Now in its second year at PGA WEST, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event field consisted of 78 players aged 12-19, including 21 AJGA winners, playing a stroke play format. The young golfers definitely took advantage of the great weather and course conditions, with several shooting under par.

 

Wheaton Ennis from Litchfield Park, Arizona claimed victory for the Boys Division for a second win this year. 

The Girls Division champion was Yujie Liu of Encinitas, California who shot a 13 under par 216, winning her first AJGA event and first victory in any golf tournament. Liu also came in with the lowest score for the week in the Girls Division during the second round, 65, for 7 under par.

Below are the results for the top 5 of each division:

Boys Division


1st                   Wheaton Ennis                                       69 65 70               -12
                        Litchfield Park, AZ


2nd                  Tucker Sweeney                                     74 64 71                 -7
                        Pasadena, CA


3rd                    Luke Dariotis                                         67 74 69                 -6
                        Sacramento, CA


T-4th                Jared Abercrombie                               73 69 70                -4
                        Simi Valley, CA            


T-4th                Bradley Smolinski                                  72 69 71                 -4
                        Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Girls Division


1st                    Yujie Liu                                         66 65 72                 -13
                        (China) Encinitas, CA

            

2nd                  Yu-Chu Chen                                         71 67 70                    -8
                        Vancouver, WA

            

3rd                   Kuree Little                                            70 68 72                    -6
                        Palmdale, CA

            

T-4th                Chloe Kim                                             68 71 72                     -5
                        Whittier, CA

            

T-4th                Zoe Sprecher                                        70 70 71                     -5
                        Sierra Madre, CA

Founded in 1978 by sportswriter Mike Bentley, the nonprofit American Junior Golf Association is dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Morgan Pressel, Jordan Spieth, Inbee Park, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Cristie Kerr, and many other PGA and LPGA professionals. Learn more at www.ajga.org