The Utah PGA Junior Series hosted a national qualifier June 12-13 at Soldier Hollow’s Silver Course, as participants pursued playing spots in the national Junior PGA Championship. The top-two players in the Boys 16-18 and Girls 16-18 age groups qualified for the national championship to be played at the Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, AR in August.
Oklahoma State University commit Parker Bunn carded a tournament best 61 in his second round clinching the first qualifying spot in the Boys 16-18 age group. Bunn finished the 36-hole event 18-under-par (65-61), a seven-stroke win. Bunn’s remarkable final round included 11 birdies on a clean card of no bogeys. He carded afront nine score of 29 with seven birdies.
Bowen Mauss and Toatele Ofahengaue both finished the event at 11-under-par. With only one qualifying spot remaining a playoff was set to determine the final qualifier. Mauss ousted Ofahengaue in the two-hole playoff to advance to Hot Springs this August, leaving Ofahengaue as the first alternate.
Ali Mulhall, the Girls 16-18 medalist played her way into the national championship after carding a 12-under-par 36-hole performance which included seven birdies in her final round. Arden Louchheim earned the second qualifying spot carding a final round 4-under-par performance to finish 4-under-par for the tournament.
Alternates Aadyn Long and Natalie Mclane carded under-par performances with Long finishing at two-under par, earning first alternate and Mclane finishing 1-under-par, earning the second alternate position.
Due to opening round weather delays the Boys 13-15 and Girls 13-15 age groups competed in a shortened 27-hole event.
Max Landon from Kaysville, became the Boys 13-15 Utah PGA Junior champion with a 31-69 – 100 for the tournament. Brock Porter and Will Anderson finished a stroke back, sharing the second-place honors. Porter shot up the leaderboard after his 8-under-par performance in his second round.
After both shooting even-par 36’s in their 9-hole first rounds Tacee Hess and Hazel Peters once again found themselves tied heading into the 27th hole. Hess’ final hole birdie clinched the 2023 Girls 13-15 division. Hess finished at 9-over-par with Peters earning runner up at 11-over par. Ellie Von Kolen and Navy Hubbs earned podium honors finishing at 14-over-par.
Full leaderboard recognizing the older division qualifiers and alternates is available here.
Written by Josh Green, a Utah PGA Junior Series intern. Photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson and Utah PGA staff.