11 year old, You Seong Choi, won tournament’s at Knollwood Country Club and Jurupa Hills Country club over the weekend. What is unusual, is that You Seong, is 11 year’s old but is competing in the 12-14 Division! The talented youngster from Hacienda Heights, California, shot 73 to win the Joe Robinson Tournament at Knollwood Country Club. You Seong was not happy with his performance (he won by 3 shot’s), because of his 6 over par start, thru his first 11 hole’s on the Jurupa Hills course. You Seong made par’s on 12 thru 14, before making 3 birdies in a row on 15, 16 and 17. He made par on his final hole to post his +3, 73.
You Seong’s older sister Judy, won the Girls 15-18 division with a solid 73. Judy, started the round with par, bogey, bogey before going -3 under par on 4 thru 16! After 16, she was -1 under. Judy was unhappy with her bogey, double bogey finish to post her 73 (+2). Judy is 16 year’s old.
Sarah Taghaboni, shot an 86 to finish in 6th place in the Girls 15-18 division. Sarah, played pretty well, but stumbled on 11 with a triple bogey and on 17 where she had a double bogey 6. Sarah, posted 3 par’s in a row on 13-15. Bella Yang, shot 89 and finished in 4th place. Bella, has just recently, qualified for the 12-14 age division and is learning how to focus for 18 hole’s instead of the 9 hole’s she played in the 9-11 age division.
At Knollwood Country Club, You Seong Choi, won by shooting an even par 72 on Sunday. You Seong, birdied hole’s 2, 7 and 12 while posting bogies on 1, 5 and 13 for his even par round of 72 and a 2 shot win in the Boys 12-14 division.
You Seong, recently came to his golf lesson and was a little concerned and upset with his 18 hole score (Blue tee’s) of +1 over par in a practice round at Royal Vista Golf Course. He explained to his coach, George Pinnell, that he was making too many mistake’s and wanted to learn how to eliminate them. Pinnell, smiled, and told the young player, “be patient, day by day, round by round you will gain more experience and learn how to manage your choice of shot’s and to manage your game. Through that process, you will limit your mistake’s thru better course management.” You Seong, was a little concerned with his driver shaft stiffness. “He said, “Coach, do you think my shaft is the right flex for me?” After a couple of swing’s using TrackMan, it was apparent that the 11 year old’s swing speed of 91 mph required a stiffer shaft, than the men’s senior flex that he is currently using. Another smile came to Pinnell’s face.
In the Girls 12-14 division at Knollwood, Gabby Kano, tied for 4th place with an 81. After her round, Gabby sent Coach Pinnell, a text that read, “I hit the 5 wood you loaned to me, numerous times today, and it hits great! I hit straight with it every time, and it foes about 190-200! And boy it was hot!” (temp 100 degree’s). (Another reason why coaching is so much fun)
At the SCPGA tournament at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club, Irene Park, shot 78 to finish in a tie for 4th place in the Girls 12-14 age division. Irene, played consistent golf with a +2 over thru 13 hole’s. She was unable to finish strong as she lost 4 shot’s on 14, 15 and 16, before making par’s on 17 and 18. According to her coach, she will learn to eliminate some of her mistake’s as she grow’s and improve’s her course management.
Anna Dong, played well in the Toyota Tour Cup @ Desert Princess with round’s of 72-74 (146). Anna, placed tied for 5th, playing in extremely hot temperature’s of the Coachella Valley. Anna, got off to a tough start with a double bogey 6, but them rebounded by going -3 under par thru her next 13 hole’s. She made bogey’s on 14 and 15 before finishing, par, birdie, par for her opening round 72. Anna’s, second round started with birdies on 1 and 3 followed by bogies on 5 and 6. She played the remaining 12 hole’s in +2 for a solid 74 and a 2 round total of 146.
In the Boys Division, Matt Huo, shot 74-71 (145) to finish in a tie for 20th. Matt, ripped off 7 birdies in his 2 round’s but made 3 bogies and 2 double’s to offset the birdies he made. Course management and shot selection is a consistent issue in learning how to play competitive golf. Time and effort will help player’s overcome the mistake’s they make, under pressure.
at the Toyota Tour Cup Olivas Links Qualifer @ El Prado, Amanda Lee, shot 82 to tie for 13th place with Michelle Chang. Amanda, got on a bogey train with bogey’s on 8 of her first 13 hole’s. Amanda, finished strong by going even par on 14 thru 18. Michelle, started of with 2 bogey’s and then 4 par’s in a row before playing her final 12 hole’s in 8 over par. Megan Lee (Amanda’s sister), was a shot behind with an 83 and 16th place. Megan was 9 over par thru 13 hole’s before she found herself making 4 par’s in her final 5 hole’s.
Kora Chiu, shot a 34 and tied for 2nd place in the Junior Development Tour event at Manhattan Beach, CA.
A great week-end for all of the competitor’s who are striving to improve their game through the positive experience of playing junior golf.
