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Top seeds advance at PNGA Junior Amateur Championships; quarterfinal matches set

Drew Warford of Snoqualmie, Wash. and Montgomery Ferreira of Tacoma, Wash. both advanced through their match play brackets securing spots in the quarterfinal matches of the 64th Pacific Northwest Junior Boys’ and 63rd Junior Girls’ Amateur Championships.

Drew Warford tees off on the 12th hole during the Round of 16 matches at TimberStone.

The two championships are being held concurrently August 13-17 at TimberStone Golf Course in Caldwell, Idaho, 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.

Championship Links:

Warford won this championship last year at Sandpines Golf Links in Florence, Ore. and is looking to add a second consecutive title to his already impressive resume this year. Earlier this summer he won the Washington 4A High School Boys’ State individual championship title, and was the medalist at a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Other players advancing to the quarterfinal round in the Boys’ championship include Stephen Dai of Bellevue, Wash. who defeated Mateo Fuenmayor of Beaverton, Ore. and Nick Lasko of Clackamas, Ore. who knocked off the number two seed Gunnar Knutson of Spokane, Wash. in an upset.

Ferreira is looking to follow in the footsteps of her sister Jordan who won this championship in 2012. She is the 2018 Washington 4A High School Girls’ State individual champion, playing for Tacoma’s Bellarmine Prep, and the past two years was selected to play in the qualifier for the LPGA Tour’s ANA Inspiration.

Along with Ferreira, other players to advance to the quarterfinals include the number two seed Carly Carter of Eagle, Idaho who advanced 9 and 7 over Georgia Miller of Kamloops B.C., and Tabetha Kang of Tigard, Ore. who won her match 2 and 1 over Emma Cox of Camas, Wash.

Tabetha Kang hits a tee shot during the Round of 16 matches as her playing partners watch on.

The rich history of the PNGA Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship includes past champions such as World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples, Web.com 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 at the USGA.

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 Pacific Northwest Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateurs, contestants must be 18 years of age or younger on August 17, 2018.

These championships are two of 15 regional championships conducted annually by the PNGA.

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 allied 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.

To join the conversation on social media, follow PNGA Championships on Twitter @PNGALIVE and use the hashtag #PNGAJrAm for live tweets and updates.