Three Players Advance Through Pumpkin Ridge Witch Hollow US Junior Amateur Qualifier
North Plains, Ore. – 26,000: the estimated number of steps it takes to walk 36 holes of golf. For three junior players at the U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier at Pumpkin Ridge’s Witch Hollow Course those 26,000 steps led them to a berth into the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
Seventy-two players started the day on Witch Hollow, which has seen its fair share of national history in its short 24-year existence. Pumpkin Ridge has hosted six USGA Championships, including the famed 1996 U.S. Amateur, won by Tiger Woods, and the 2000 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girl’s Junior. The morning 18 holes saw only three players at par or better, led by Roy Kang of North Vancouver, British Columbia who shot a 2-under par 70. Samuel Pyon of Happy Valley, Oregon was one shot behind him after a 1-under par 71, and Nate Stember of Portland, Oregon entered the lunch break two back after an even par 72. The course played long at 7,015 yards, and firm dry conditions in the afternoon made it even more difficult for scoring.
In the afternoon, the leaders made a few bogeys after their morning success, and midway through the afternoon, it was anyone’s game. As the field fell back, Stember stayed consistent and followed up his even par morning with an afternoon 3-over par 75 to claim medalist honors and the first qualifying spot with a 36-hole total of 3-over par 147. Craig Ronne of Klamath Falls, Oregon grabbed the second qualifying spot after posting a morning 73 and an afternoon 75 for a 36-hole total of 148. Spencer Tibbits of Vancouver, Washington came back from his opening round of 4-over par 76 to post a 1-over par 73 in the afternoon, giving him a 36-hole total of 5-over par 149, good enough for the third and final qualifying spot. Kang picked up the first alternate position with a 7-over par 151 total, while Pyon snagged the second alternate position with an 8-over par 152 total.
The U.S. Junior Amateur runs July 18-23 and features 2 rounds of stroke play that serve as qualifying for 64 match play spots. The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennesee has previously hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1991, the Curtis Cup in 1994, and most recently the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in 2011, among other prestigious events. This year it’s where the best juniors in the nation and world will come together to crown a champion. 26,000 steps in the right direction were taken by three players today, but the journey has just begun.
