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Qualifying: 75th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship

The 420-yard par-4 14th hole at Daniel Island Club. Photo: USGA/Russell Kirk


ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 30, 2023) — The MGA this spring will conduct two qualifiers for the 75th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Junior golf remains as competitive as ever in the Met Area and players advancing to the national stage often put themselves in the mix to advance to the 64-player match play bracket. Competitors are this year hoping to punch their tickets to Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., for the July 24-29 championship. Stroke play for the championship will take place on both the Ralston Creek Course and Beresford Creek Course, with all matches being contested on the Ralston Creek Course.

Related: U.S. Junior Amateur Home

May 30 - Essex Fells Country Club, Essex Fells, N.J.
Barnes Blake of Westfield, N.J., and Carson Looney of Bethesda, Md., topped the leaderboard with 1-under 69s. Blake started his round hot with three birdies in the first five holes. Though he added a trio of bogeys on the way in, an additional birdie helped him share medalist honors with Looney. Kristoffer Kuvaas of Houston, Texas finished third at even-par, while New Jersey competitors rounded out the final three spots. Rickie Reck of Middletown and Devan Patel of Madison posted 1-over 71s, while Elliot Parker of Cranford emerged from a 3-for-1 playoff for the final position.

Parker and 2022 MGA/MetLife Boys' champion Arjun Caprihan of Florham Park, N.J., made birdie on the first playoff hole, while a par for Dean Muratore of Dix Hills, N.Y., earned him second alternate. Parker and Caprihan both found the same left greenside bunkers on their approaches to the second playoff hole. After both blasted out of the sand, Parker's two-putt allowed him to secure the final spot while Caprihan took the first alternate position.
Results

June 6 - Pelham Country Club, Pelham, N.Y.
Josh Yan of Newburgh N.Y. topped the leaderboard with a 3-under 68. Josh made the move up the leaderboard carding 4 birdies in a 5-hole stretch on the back nine dropping him to 4 under. Though he added a bogey to finish his round 3 under. This score held up throughout the day finishing 3 shots clear of second place.  Anthony Jomphe of Canada took home the second qualifying spot posting an even par 71. Anthony had a hot start to the day with a birdie at the 1st and 5th holes to finish the front nine at 1 under. The back nine proved more difficult with bogies on 10, 11, and 12. However he had a strong finish with birdies on 16 and 17 to get him back to even and in qualifying position.

James Bradly of East Hampton N.Y. and Alex Elia of Wilton Connecticut took home the final two qualifying spots. The two battled it out in a 4 person playoff as darkness closed in. Elia was the first to punch their ticket holing out for birdie from just short of the green on the second playoff hole. It would take another two holes for Bradly to secure a qualifying position.
Results