66th PNGA Junior Boys’ Amateur and 65th PNGA Junior Girls’ being held at Palouse Ridge
Pullman, Wash. – The 66th PNGA Junior Boys’ Amateur and 65th PNGA Junior Girls’ Amateur are being held this week at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash. The region’s premier championships for junior golfers traditionally attract the strongest fields of the season from throughout the Northwest.
Championship Links
Junior Boys’:
Junior Girls’:
The two championships are being held concurrently August 16-20, and are being conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA). Both championships are considered as counting events for the World Amateur Golf Ranking, as well as AJGA Performance Based Entry.
Both championships consist of 36 holes of stroke play qualifying, to be held August 16-17, to determine seeding for the match play portion of the championships. For the Boys’ championship, 32 players will advance to match play; and for the Girls’, 16 players will advance.
All matches will be contested over 18 holes in a single-elimination format, with the exception of the two final matches, which will both be played over 36 holes on Friday, August 20.
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Players to watch in the Junior Boys’:
- Ethan Evans (Mercer Island, Wash.) – Last week won the WJGA Boys’ State Championship for the second year in a row.
- Sam Renner (Bend, Ore.) – Competed in 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur, won the 2021 Oregon Junior Amateur. Played in the 2016 Little League World Series.
- Max Herendeen (Bellevue, Wash.) – Won the 2021 Pacific Northwest PGA Boys’ Junior PGA Championship.
- Daniel Kim (Mukilteo, Wash.) – Advanced to Final qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Open.
The rich history of the PNGA Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship includes past champions such as World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples, Korn Ferry Tour players Alex Prugh and Andrew Yun, and John Bodenhamer, the former CEO and executive director of the PNGA who now is a senior director of championships the USGA.
Players to watch in the Junior Girls’:
- Kennedy Knox (Normandy Park, Wash.) – This summer, has won the Washington Women’s Amateur, the SWGA City Amateur, and the WJGA Girls’ State Championship, the first player in history to accomplish this feat.
- Carly Carter (Eagle, Idaho) – Selected for Team Idaho and competed in the 2021 Girls’ Junior America’s Cup; 3-time Idaho Junior Girls’ Amateur Champion (2018, 2020, 2021).
- Sofia Fuenmayor (Beaverton, Ore.) – Last week won the Portland City/Bob Allard Memorial Championship; and last month won the Klamath Basin Junior Championship.
- Angela Park (Pasco, Wash.) – Won two District titles during the 2021 Washington Junior Golf Association season.
The storied history of the PNGA Junior Girls’ Amateur includes past champions Jo Ann Washam, Peggy Conley, Joan Edwards-Powell, Mary Budke, and JoAnne Gunderson Carner, all of whom would later be inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame after storied amateur and professional careers. Other past champions include current LPGA Tour players Paige Mackenzie and Jimin Kang.
To be eligible for the PNGA Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championships, contestants must have not reached their 19th birthday by midnight of August 20, 2021, and must have a Handicap Index or Factor not exceeding 8.4 for Boys’ or 12.4 for Girls’.
These championships are two of 11 regional championships conducted annually by the PNGA.
About Palouse Ridge Golf Club
Opened in 2008 and designed by John Harbottle III, Palouse Ridge Golf Club has already been the site of numerous state and regional championships, as well as many USGA qualifiers. As the home course for the Washington State University men’s and women’s golf teams, it also hosts numerous collegiate events, including the 2012 Pac-12 Women’s Championship, 2015 Pac-12 Men’s Championship, and the NCAA West Regionals (2013, 2019). Visit palouseridge.com for more information.
About the Pacific Northwest Golf Association
The PNGA was founded on February 4, 1899. It is a 501c3 charitable, international, amateur golf association dedicated to preserving the true spirit of golf by supporting its member associations, conducting quality championships, and promoting activities beneficial to golfers in the Pacific Northwest. For more than a century, the Association has been a pioneer in developing competitions and services and its mission has grown and evolved. Today, the PNGA remains committed to being a truly regional organization providing benefits and services to its members and member clubs throughout the Northwest.
