Hong and Downes Crowned Junior Connecticut PGA Champions
Hong, Downes, Luo, and Rosati Qualify for Junior PGA Nationals
BLOOMFIELD, Conn. (June 30, 2022) – Stellar play, ideal weather, and excellent course conditions were the hallmarks of the 47th Junior Connecticut PGA Championships that concluded yesterday at Tumble Brook Country Club.
First round leader Kate Hong and Emily Luo, who was four strokes back starting the second day, were paired together in the final group of the girl’s championship. Both Hong (class of 2022 from Old Greenwich), who just turned 18 last week and will attend the College of the Holy Cross in the fall, and Luo, 16, (class of 2024 from Danville), Calif.), each played nearly flawless golf for their final six holes.
Hong’s lead was reduced to one after she turned in two-over par 38 on Tumble Brook’s Fazio nine while Luo shot one-under par 35.
Luo then grabbed a share of the lead on hole number 10 when she parred and Hong bogeyed.
The par 5, 14th proved to be pivotal for the outcome.
Luo birdied hole 14. But it was Hong’s length of the green, 40-foot putt for eagle that proved to be the difference for the eventual champion. The Sacred Heart Greenwich High School graduate added a birdie on hole 17 to matching Luo’s.
Both players parred the final hole, leaving Hong with the one-stroke margin of victory.
Hong (70-73-143) and Luo (74-70-144) were the only girls to record under par rounds in the championship. By way of their finish both qualify for the Junior PGA of America Championship to take place on August 2-5, 2022, at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Palos Park, Illinois.
Defending champion Tiffany Chan (class of 2022 from Kent) finished in third place with a score of 73-76-149 and is first alternate to go to the national championship.
The boy’s championship was just as exciting and came down to a one-stroke margin of victory for Ryan Downes, 16 (class of 2024 from Longmeadow, Mass.), who was runner up last year.
First round leader Robby Rosati, 13 (class of 2026 from Stratford), got to 6-under par for the championship after making birdie on the par 4, 12th hole. Downes also made birdie on hole number 12 but trailed Rosati by two strokes with six holes to play.
The decisive hole for the boy’s championship was also the par 5, 14th hole.
Downes recorded a birdie while Rosati ran into trouble by making a double bogey, resulting in a 3-shot swing on that one hole.
Downes one-stroke lead didn’t last very long. He bogeyed the next hole, the par 3, 15th so now he and Rosati were tied at the top with three holes to play.
Downes (72-68-140) parred the final three holes to emerge victorious. Runner up Rosati (67-74-141) slipped with a bogey on hole 17 but the consolation for him is that he will be joining Downes at the Junior PGA Championship at Cog Hill.
A trio of boys tied for third. Will Gregware (class of 2024 from West Hartford), Alex Alia (class of 2022 from Wilton), and Matthew Downes (class of 2023 from Kensington) all finished at one-under par 143 for the championship. Gregware captured the first alternate spot in a playoff.
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Final Results – Girls Championship results
Final Results – Boys Championship results
Contact: Tom Hantke, Connecticut Section PGA, 860-430-2302, thantke@pgahq.com