PEBBLE BEACH, California – This year’s annual Challenge Cup was not only full of great golf but great people. Team south consisted of four girls and eight boys.

Girls Team: Amari Avery, Rose Zhang, Casey Syal, and Kayla Sam.

Boys Team: Tyler Schafer, William Mellein, Chase Furey, Diego Renteria, Ray Navis, Roy Choi, Sam Choi, Cameron Sisk.

The two team Captains were Travis Cutler and Jake Ellison. The first day consisted of the front nine four ball match play. The back nine was alternate shot. Day two was then 18 holes of singles matches. On the final day, Diego Renteria and Chase Furey made a run at the end of their matches, both taking their opponents to the 18th hole. Diego made a clutch up and down on 15 after plugging his tee shot into the face of a bunker. He then went on to win 16 and halve 17 with a pressure filled, 11 foot, par putt.

Chases come back started on the 16th hole when he blocked his drive dead right into the woods. When all hope seemed to be gone, chase punched through the trees and the followed it up with a 30 foot birdie putt to win the hole. On 17 he dropped another 30 foot putt for birdie to win the hole. Apparently 60 feet of putts on two holes wasn’t good enough, because Chase dropped a 45 foot putt for birdie on 18 to finish his match.

Unfortunately Team South did not clinch the victory for the 2017 Challenge Cup, falling to Team North, 15-9. However, Team South played its heart out, and most importantly, had fun along the way.

Southern California PGA Junior Tour

Thank you so much to the NCGA and all the volunteers for hosting this event. Thank you to Poppy Hills for allowing us to play on their world class golf course. Finally, thank you to Nike Golf for the awesome South Team golf gear.