Author: Jesse Dodson
New major champions were crowned and several others punched their ticket to the season-ending Hidden Valley Major yesterday at the Wasatch Utah PGA Junior Series Major at Wasatch Mountain State Park Lake Golf Course.
Jacob Marx (picture), Boys 17-18 division, came in with the low score of the day with a 6-under 66. Marx had a total of seven birdies, including three in-a-row on holes 5, 6 and 7. With the victory, Marx will have the chance to play in the Hidden Valley Major at Hidden Valley Country Club August 14th and compete for one of the two qualifying spots in the 2017 Utah Open.
Lexi Hamel, Girls 17-18 division, claimed her win with a 2-over, 74, making a 15-foot birdie putt on her 18th hole, the par 4, 10th. With that finishing birdie, she secured a two-stroke win over Jobi Einerson. Hamel, a frequent Utah PGA Junior Series contender solidified her spot in the Hidden Valley Major in August to play for one of the two exemption spots for the first ever Utah Women’s Open.
Zach Jones, finished first in the Boys 15-16 division with a 3-under 69. A clean round of three birdies and no bogies was enough to finish at the top of the leaderboard in his division and second overall for the tournament. Jones, though only 16, will certainly be a contender for the Utah Open exemption, whether it be by his Majors Player’s Points or winning the Hidden Valley Major.
Parker Reese, Boys 13-14, was only 1-over after 18 holes and secured his win yesterday in a playoff against Tyson Shelley. Caylyn Ponich, Girls 15-16, continued her successful summer with a 73 and a victory and Savanna Einerson came out on top in the Girls 13-14 with an 82.
The Lake Course at Wasatch Mountain State Park Golf Course added to the exceptional venues of this year’s Junior Series Majors. A big thank you to Chris Stover and his staff for allowing the Utah PGA Junior Series to take advantage of one of Utah’s most cherished venues; especially while celebrating its 50-year anniversary.
For full results click HERE.
Photos available HERE.