2006 Marty LaRoche Junior Cup

WONG BIRDIES FOR WIN  -  RUNAS TOO HOT FOR FIELD 

Rancho Santa Margarita, California, JAGS Junior Tour (Junior Amateur Golf Scholars) conducted its 6^TH annual Marty LaRoche Junior Cup tournament at the challenging Tijeras Creek Golf Course in Rancho Santa Margarita, California on June 28-29, 2006.  This 36-hole event is nationally ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard.

It’s summer time in California!  June gloom was gone with temperatures soaring over the 100 degree mark and a late afternoon shotgun start, tested not only the players golfing skills but their physical conditioning too. Players saw the course from a different perspective this year as the boys competed from the demanding black tees (6,918 yds. 73.4/136) and the girls from ever challenging white tees (6,220 yds. 77.1/138). 

Round one in the boys division had many players in a log jam at one or two over par at the end of the day. Sean Harris, Santa Monica, Calif., posted even par 72, to lead by two shots over Michael Yiu, Laguna Hills, Calif., (74) and three shots over Brendan Wong, Orange, Calif., and international player Matthew Giles, Australia, both at 75.  Tom Moore, Huntington Beach, Calif. was four back at 76, and three players five back tied at 77.  Harris started on the ninth hole with par and then blazed the back nine scoring at 4-under par (32).  Harris said, “I was on fired and could not miss a chip or putt on the back nine but after making the turn, the heat was really getting to me and I simply ran out of energy giving back 4 shots on holes 4, 5, 6 and 7 but managed to par my last two hole to finish at even par.”  

14 year old Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif.,  (79) led the girl’s field in round one by 1 stroke over Yolanda Lin, Brea, Calif., (80), Lana Cox, San Clemente, Calif., (81) and defending champion Tarah Taylor, Mission Viejo, Calif., who finished at 84.  As the heat soared so did the scores.  Feeling extremely sick from the heat, Runas was about to withdraw on the 18^th hole but knew she only had six holes to play and decided to keep going and finish her round.  Runas said, “I think I drank too much water trying to stay cool and I did not feel good.  All I could think about was doing my best to finish the round so I could get into the air conditioned club house.”      

Day two began with cooler morning tee times giving players a much needed reprieve from the afternoon heat.  Many players came out firing low rounds on the front nine but found temperatures rising and scores climbing on the back nine.  First round leader, Harris completed the tournament posting (72-78-150)  to tie for fourth place with Scott Clayton, San Bernardino, Calif., who had trouble during round one but played solidly during round two to score (77-73-150).  Yiu finished in third place scoring (74-75-149) had solid ball striking off the tee and in the fairways but was unable to convert a few birdie and par putts to make a move for the championship.  Defending champion, Giles along with Wong both in the final group of the day went head to head during round two to finish in a tie both posting (75-73-148), 4-over par to force a play-off to determine the winner.   

The play-off began on the par-5 hole number one with Wong hitting a beautiful drive dead center in the fairway.  Giles up next pushed his drive to the right just over the fairway bunker.  As Giles, spectators and officials approached the area where Giles ball was suppose to be, they saw nothing, no ball in sight.  The search was on, but so was the 5-minute clock.  As everyone frantically looked for Giles ball, time ran out, forcing him back to the tee to hit his third shot.  Wong, knowing he had the advantage, hit his second shot landing it 15 feet from the pin for a chance to make eagle or birdie and the win.  Giles on the green lying 4 with a 5 foot par putt, marked his ball and told Wong, go for it, make the putt.  Wong missed his eagle putt by a couple of inches, tapped in for birdie and the championship.  With the gallery and officials watching, Giles quickly went to Wong shook his hand and gave Wong his congratulations.  Wong said, “I wish we could have found Matthew’s ball because it would have made the play-off a lot more fun.”  Wong will be attending Cal-Poly University – SLO in the fall as a freshman and was honored to win his second JAGS title before becoming a collegiate golfer.   

In the girls division, Runas kept her game steady and on course to claim her second JAGS title this season by posting rounds of 79-78-157.  Runas said, “I only concentrated on fairways and greens today and doing everything possible to stay cool and hydrated.  I am so excited to earn my second JAGS win this season.”  She did just that to claim her victory by 9 stokes over second place finisher Jade Okamoto, Huntington Beach, Calif., and eleven stokes over third place finisher Cox.  Lin and Taylor tied for fourth place with Megan Chang, Irvine, Calif., taking fifth.

JAGS would like to thank tournament officials Eve Clayton and Dave Moore for all their help and assistance during the tournament and all the volunteers who help transport players from green to tee on the steep paths on the back nine. 

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