Author: Jesse Dodson
The Utah Junior PGA Championship provides one boy and one girl the opportunity to play in the Junior PGA Championship at Kearney Hill Golf Links for the girls and Valhalla Golf Club for the boys. Soldier Hollow Golf Course played host May 11-12 and provided Kerstin Fotu and Carter Frisby with victories.
In the girl’s division, 36 holes wasn’t enough between Fotu and defending champion Alina Vannarath to decide a winner. Both shot 4-under 68 on day one and even-par 72 in the final round. The first playoff hole, however, was the deciding factor when Fotu drained a 50-foot eagle putt on the par-5 10th hole to win the Utah Junior PGA Championship and claim exemption into the 2018 Junior PGA Championship.
“I’m excited,” Fotu said about qualifying. “This is actually the first year I’ve ever qualified. I’ve come close the last couple years so I’m really excited; it’s a good tournament.”
After day one, the boy’s division also had a two-way tie for first between Carter Frisby and Jordan Bingham, both finishing with a 1-over 73. But no playoff was necessary after the final round. Frisby had five birdies and an eagle on the par-4 12th hole to shoot a 1-under 71 and safely claim exemption into the Boys Junior PGA Championship.
“It’s way cool,” Frisby said about qualifying. “It’s always nice to qualify for something, especially at a course like Valhalla.”
“My wedges were on,” explained Frisby. “I felt really confident with anything inside 100 yards.”
Aadyn Long shot 87-86-173 to win the Girl’s 13-15 division and Payson Atkinson shot 79-71-150 to win it for the Boy’s 13-15 division.
One more exemption spot is up for grabs next week for one boy and girl at the Showdown Classic PGA Junior Major at Jeremy Ranch G&CC and Wasatch Mountain GC on June 18-19.
A big thank you to Head Pro Chris Newson and his staff at Soldier Hollow Golf Course for hosting and Rob Edwards and his staff for feeding all our participants.