Last weekend the FCG tour had our Annual Memorial Day Championship! Played on two courses this year, we saw a lot of awesome golf! First, the boys played on the newest course at PGA WEST and the only Greg Norman-designed golf course in the Coachella Valley is aptly described as being very “challenging but fair.” Sporting only 68 acres of lush manicured turf, 102 white crushed marble bunkers and shark blue water coming into play on 9 holes, this 7,200-yard course offers a truly “Outback” experience that will entice you back time and time again. The girls were over at La Quinta playing the Mountain Course; famed for its unique Pete Dye design, playability and stunning visuals, this ultra-challenging course features pot bunkers and rock formations, as well as incredible elevations of tee boxes and well-bunkered greens. Ascending to the top of the elevated tee box of the signature 16th enables you to fully appreciate the majesty of this course, named one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play. An extra special treat for this tournament: all players got to ride in a cart! Of course, another qualifying event for our prestigious FCG Callaway World Championship, back out in the desert in July. Let’s see how they did:
First up for the boys 15-18 division, playing the championship tees at PGA West, we had a tie at 2-over 146 between John Kim from Palm Desert, Ca & Bo Jin from Encinitas, Ca. After a sudden death play-off, Bo Jin took home first. Not pictured, coming in third place was Christopher Wardrup from Imperial, CA with scores of 72-75 for a total 147. Fourth place went to Cameron Xiao from Yorba Linda, CA with scores of 72-77 for a total 149 and fifth place had a three-way tie at 151 between Eric Cho from Murrieta, CA (74-77), Jess Scheller from Valencia, CA (76-75) and winning that card-off was Luke Potter from Eincinitas, CA with scores of 77-74.
Over at La Quinta, the girls 15-18 played the ladies silver tees. Coming in first place from Tustin, Ca was Cameron Lee with scores of 70-77 for a total 147. Coming in second place was Yuree Huh from San Diego, CA with scores of 77-74 for a total 151. Third place was taken home by Joys Jin from Encinitas, CA with scores of 78-74 for a total 152 and we had a tie for fourth place at 153 between Nicole Suppelsa from Rolling Hills Estates, CA and Jessica Huang from Palm Desert, Ca. Winning the card-off, determined by second day low was Nicole with scores of 77-76 and Jessica taking home fifth with scores of 75-78.
The boys 13-14 division played the regular tees at the Norman course, with another first place tie! At a total 153, a sudden-death play-off between Ethen Yen from Azusa, CA & Andrew Garcia from Pico Rivera, CA ensued. Coming out on top was Ethen (75-78) and Andrew (76-77) taking home second. We had another tie for third place, at 168 with Benjamin Gould from Carlsbad, CA winning the card-off with scores 87-81 and taking home fourth was Billy Lee from Murrieta, CA with scores of 85-83.
The girls 13-14 played the gold tees at La Quinta with Kailee Miller from San Diego, CA come in first 83-78 for a total 161. Coming in second place was Kayla Escamilla from Palm Desert, Ca 85-99 for a total 184 and coming in third place was Carissa Freeman from La Mesa, CA wth scores of 110-112 for a total 122.
Back at the Norman Course, the 11-12 boy played the red tees with lone soldier Maclain Brigham from Menifee, CA shoot 97-95 for a total 192 for his trophy.
At La Quinta, from the red tees, 11-12 girls division winner was Katelyn Parr from Temecula, CA shoot 84-85 for a total 169. Coming in second was Uma Desai from Chatsworth, CA with scores of 97-92 for a total 189 and coming in third place was Erica Freeman from La Mesa, Ca with scores of 92-100 for a total 192.
Last division at the Norman Course was our 9-10 boys who played from the red tees with Carter Gaede from Manhattan Beach, CA hoot 79-80 for a total 159. Second place went to Jojo Guiterrez from Whittier, CA with scores of 85-87 for a total 172, third place to Aiden Tang from Placentia, CA with scores of 85-89 for a total 174 and coming in fourth place was Daniel Chazen from Carlsbad, CA with scores of 89-86 for a total of 175.
And last but not least, our littlest lady (not pictured) 9-10 winner Karina Jadhav with consecutive 99’s for her trophy!
Big congratulations to all placers in this wonderful event! Thank you to all participants, players, parents, caddies and of course the wonderful staff at both PGA West and La Quinta courses. Another awesome event in the books for Future Champions Golf! Until next time FCG Tour… Tournament Schedule