Author: Jesse Dodson
The Meadow Brook/Glenmoor Utah PGA Junior Series Major has concluded the Major Qualifying season and set the stage for the final Promontory Major Championship to be played the end of July.
The new two-day Major format has created a little extra drama this year in determining our Major champions and the Meadow Brook/Glenmoor Major played July 16-17 wasn’t any different.
Alexis Wilson of Nibley, Utah and Jobi Einerson of Bountiful, both shot 1-under 71 in the Girls 17-18 division in the first round at Meadow Brook, which set up for an important final round. With Wilson sitting near the top of the Girl’s Majors Points Leaders list and vying for one of the two Utah Women’s Open exemptions, a Major win would go a long way.
“It feels really good cause it’s something I’ve looked forward to,” Wilson said about competing for a Utah Women’s Open exemption. “It’s something that I’ve wanted to make a goal, and it has been my goal. To have the opportunity now is really cool.”
Wilson’s steady 76 at Glenmoor was enough for a three-stroke win. Wilson credited feeling comfortable on the greens at Meadow Brook and her wedges at Glenmoor to take home the trophy for the season’s last Qualifying Major.
Jackson Holman continued his Major dominance by winning his second Major in-a-row, but it took an extra hole to do so. After round one, the Boy’s 15-16 division had a two-way tie between Holman and Carter Frisby. The second round at Glenmoor made things even more interesting ending in a three-way between Holman, Frisby and Willard Richards. Holman took care of business in the playoff, which was played on the par-five, dogleg-left first hole. A solid drive that cut the corner just enough lead to a par and a victory.
With two wins under his belt, Holman leads the Major points race by 53 points heading into the Promontory Major Championship.
Josh Brereton became a Utah PGA Junior Series first-time Major winner this week with two-consistent rounds of 69-71 (-4) 140. Though Brereton came out of the gates with a 3-under 69, he trailed Landon Herndon by two heading into the final day. It was a bogey-free front nine at Glenmoor that lead to a 1-under 71 and his first Major victory. The win also gave him a spot in the season-ending Major Championship.
Bailia Milne of the Girl’s 15-16 division has placed runner-up finishes in the first two Majors of the season, but a two-stroke lead after round one propelled her to her first Major win at the Meadow Brook/Glenmoor Major. With rounds of 77-80, Milne walked away with a 10-stroke victory and now sits in second place in the points race behind Alexis Wilson.
Jackson Rhees trailed by one stroke after the first round but played consistent enough at Glenmoor to win by three in the Boy’s 13-14 division. Rheese played 1-under the last eight holes to shoot even on the tougher back nine and gained some momentum before Promontory.
Corinne Lillywhite started the Major strong with a 74 at Meadow Brook and played well enough at Glenmoor to win comfortably in the Girl’s 13-14 division.
Exemptions into the Utah Open and Utah Women’s Open are there for the taking at the Promontory Major Championship. Two spots in each Open will be rewarded; one for the championship winners in the 17-18 divisions and one for the points leaders in the 15-18 divisions.
We couldn’t run these events without the help of our Utah Section PGA professionals. Meadow Brook and Glenmoor golf courses played a pivotal role in the success of this Major and we are appreciative of their willingness to play host.