Team California, with a group of golfers from San Diego County, defeated Team Georgia at this year’s PGA Junior League Golf Championship at Disney’s Palm Course in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
It was the fifth consecutive year the states have met for the title. Teams representing Georgia won the event in 2011 and 2013, and teams from California were victorious in 2012 and 2014, in addition to this year’s event that originally was to be played prior to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles. The event was moved, however, after the PGA of America pulled out because of comments made by Donald Trump while campaigning for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
Krando Nishiba of Team California made a 35-foot birdie putt in the playoff to secure the victory for the team of young Southland golfers.
“I started on a line and putted on a line, and it went in,” Nishiba said. “I was just thinking, ‘Get it to the hole’ and ‘Give it a chance,’ and it went in.”
Team Georgia had a shot to tie and send it to a chip off, but putts by Bruce Murphy and Myles Jones failed to fall.
“It was so up and down,” said John Mason, the Team California captain and PGA director of instruction at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. “The kids were amazing. … Every time we were down, we came back. I am so proud for San Diego.”
The format featured nine-hole matches played in a two-person scramble format, with points awarded based on holes won. Final scoring is based on the record of matches won, tied and lost. Each team played three matches to determine a winner in the East and West divisions, with California and Georgia finishing 3-0 before advancing to the finals.
Besides Nishiba, other members of Team California were Nicholas Chang, Shane French, Jay Leng Jr., Jackson Moss, Dylan Oyama, Ryan Smith, Jared Tran, Jaycie Stewart, Daina Tsuru and alternate Ryan Mellick.
