The Utah PGA Junior series hosted the Utah Country Rumble Junior Major on July 17-18 with the first round of play taking place at Timpanogos Golf Club and The Oaks at Spanish Fork hosting the second round completing the 36-hole tournament. Participants competed for a qualifying spot into the end of season Major Championship taking place at Hobble Creek this July which can be clinched with a top 3 finish in any age division alongside a qualifying spot into the Notah Begay III Regional which is awarded to the top 5 in all age divisions.
Lance Loughton posted the lowest score of the tournament en route to his first Major win of the season. Loughton’s rounds compiled 13 birdies with only two bogies to finish at the top of the Boys 15-16 division at 11-under-par 133 (65-68). Runner up Ian Miyasaki, fourth place finisher, Ryker Lind, and fifth place finisher Ben Clayson also clinched a qualifying spot into the end of season Major Championship due to others qualifying in previous events.
The Utah County Rumble is Nelson’s second Junior Major win of the season.
Boys 17-18 division winner Cooper Nelson claimed his second Major win of the year carding a 136 (69-67), 8-under-par performance. Runner-up Luke Gardner finished 2-under-par who tied with Jarren Phillips earned qualification into the end of season Major, along with Christian Bates, Stockton Penman, and Johnny Rasmussen who all tied for fifth ending at even par.
Josh Neff finished atop of the Boys 13-14 division posting a 2-over-par tournament followed by runner up Jack Nelson who went 5-over-par, and Dade Westfall who tied with Gordon Gatrell rounded out the podium both finishing 8-over-par. Gatrell previously claimed a qualifying spot into the end of season Major but Neff, Nelson, and Westfall all punched their tickets this week.
On the girls’ side, Ali Mulhall was the only player to shoot under-par finishing at 3-under to claim back-to-back-to-back Major wins. Fourth place finisher Sydney Richards and fifth place finisher Katelin Bingham claimed their tickets to the end of year tournament.
Susan Tiffner, Campbell Kato, and Abbee Albrect of the Girls 15-16 division also claimed their qualifying spot. Natalie McLane came out on top of the division shooting an 8-over-par 153 (78-75) over the two days.
There were no new qualifiers in the Girls 13-14 division. Molli Mulhall earned her fourth Major title of the year carding a 155 (10-over-par). Tazlyn Wagner and Mikaila Lieu earned podium honors as well.
For a full leaderboard and qualifiers list visit here.
For tournament photos visit here.
Story by Utah PGA Junior Series intern Josh Green. Photos by Utah PGA Junior Series interns and Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.