BLUE ASH, OH (June 30, 2022) – Clare Yeazell of West Chester, Ohio wins the 2022 Southern Ohio Girls Junior PGA Championship on Thursday, June 30th at Blue Ash Golf Course in Blue Ash, Ohio.
Yeazell, 16, finished 10-over-par after carding scores of 78-76 in the 36-hole Championship at Blue Ash Golf Course.
“I think the key [today] was hitting the middle of the greens,” noted Yeazell when asked about her round. “I’ve been working really hard this summer, so to finally win feels really good.”
Yeazell will have the opportunity to join 156 of the nation’s top female junior golfers in the PGA of America’s premium junior event, the 46th Girls Junior PGA Championship, hosted at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Palos Park, Illinois. Cog Hill was designed by famous golf course architect Dick Wilson, who designed many other unique and highly acclaimed courses around the country like The Country Club, Merion, and Shinnecock Hills to name a few. Golf Digest Magazine has ranked Cog Hill as one of the top 100 public courses in the US and the course has hosted many esteemed golfing events throughout the years.
Each of the 41 PGA of America Sections has the opportunity to send two players to Illinois to compete in the 46th Girls Junior PGA Championship set to be played August 2-5, 2022.
Audrey Ryu, 17, of Dublin, Ohio claimed the Runner-Up title in the Southern Ohio Girls Junior PGA Championship. After finishing in a tie for second place with Lilly Middleton, 18, of Wilmington, OH at 11-over-par, Ryu fought to win an 11-hole playoff and the second qualifying spot for the 46th Girls Jr. PGA Championship. Middleton earned the first alternate spot. Ellie Lim, Angelina Gong, Leann Harker and Audrey Keplar also earned alternate spots into the Championship.
The Girls Junior PGA Championship is where some of the best in the world get their start. Many of today’s LPGA Tour professionals made their debut at the Championship. Notable past participants include: Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Cristie Kerr, Grace Park, Michelle Wie, and Dottie Pepper.
Click here to view the 2022 Southern Ohio Girls Junior PGA Championship leaderboard.
About the Southern Ohio PGA Junior Tour
The Southern Ohio PGA Junior Tour was established in 2008 by the Southern Ohio PGA as an extension of the association’s nearly 500 Members and Associates teaching juniors the game of golf throughout Central and Southern Ohio. Through the Players Tour and Junior Series, the SOPGA Jr. Tour aims to develop young golfers while providing outstanding competitions on a local level. Learn more about the SOPGA Jr. Tour and all Junior Golf programs run through the Southern Ohio PGA at www.southernohiojuniorgolf.com.
About the Southern Ohio PGA
The Southern Ohio Section, PGA of America is an association of nearly 500 golf professionals whose mission is to promote the interest, participation and enjoyment in the game itself; establish and maintain professional standards of practice, and enhance the well-being of golf professionals. The Southern Ohio Section was founded in 1946. Find out more at www.thesouthernohiopga.com.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America represents the very best in golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit www.PGA.org , follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook. For more information about the 45th Girls Junior PGA Championship, visit www.juniorpgachampionship.com
Contact
Bretten Hill, SOPGA Foundation & Communications Manager
bhill@pgahq.com | (937) 637-9970