MARYSVILLE, OH – Cameron Phillips of McDermott, OH and Addie Yarbrough of Dublin, OH win the 2023 Southern Ohio Junior PGA Championship in their respective Divisions on Tuesday, June 27th at Darby Creek Golf Course in Marysville, Ohio.
After finishing Runner-Up in the 2022 Southern Ohio Junior PGA Championship, Phillips, 17, arrived ready to take home the 2023 title. He opened the tournament carding a round of three-under-par 69. Four competitors within five shots behind him didn’t worry Phillips as he closed the tournament with a consistent three-under-par to keep his five-stroke lead and win the Boys Division Championship.
In the Girls Division Championship, Addie Yarbrough opened the tournament with a steady even-par round. 2022 Southern Ohio Junior PGA Runner-Up Audrey Ryu fought hard during the final round to tie Yarbough with matching tournament scores of 148, forcing a playoff for the Championship Title which Yarbough claimed with a par on the first playoff hole.
Phillips and Yarbrough will have the opportunity to join the nation’s top junior golfers in the PGA of America’s premium junior event, the Junior PGA Championship, hosted at Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Arlington course has recently been renovated by Master’s Champion Ben Crenshaw, with Bentgrass greens and a restoration of the original classic design. Steep and narrow Bermuda fairways through rolling hills make this course a true challenge for any golfer. The Park course, a bit more open than the Arlington, offers its own sandy and watery challenges. It also was recently renovated by Coore and Crenshaw. It is a little longer than its sister course at 6,836 yards and also offers new Bentgrass greens for year-round playability.
Each of the 41 PGA of America Sections has the opportunity to send two players to Arkansas. Therefore, along with Phillips and Yarbrough, Runners-Up Jack Marsh and Audrey Ryu will also be competing at Hot Springs Country Club. The 47th Junior PGA Championships will be held from August 1-4, 2023.
The Junior PGA Championships are where some of the best in the world get their start. Many of today’s PGA Tour and LPGA TOUR professionals made their debut at the Championship. Notable past participants include: Tiger Woods, Inbee Park, Justin Thomas, Lexi Thompson, Jordan Spieth, Cristie Kerr, David Toms, Grace Park, Phil Mickelson, Michelle Wie, and Dottie Pepper.