Young golfer, Charlie Woods, advances on the Junior PGA leaderboard after posting a striking nine-birdie score of 66.
Charlie Woods Chases Junior PGA Championship Title
Charlie Woods, the son of golfing legend Tiger Woods, is aiming for another big win in the Junior PGA Championship. After a strong performance in the second round, Woods found himself near the top of the leaderboard.
Woods started the tournament with a one-under-par 70. However, a poor performance in the stroke play portion of the US Junior Amateur Championship last week saw him miss the match play stages, with scores of 14-over-par on the first day and 11-over-par on the second day.
But the Junior PGA Championship presented a new opportunity for Woods. He began the second round with a birdie-bogey start but quickly found his form. A run of five birdies in six holes saw him turn in 31 (-5), vaulting him over 40 spots on the leaderboard.
Woods continued his impressive play, birdieing holes 12, 14, and 15, reaching eight-under-par for the day. However, a few hiccups in the final holes saw him finish the round with a par on the 18th, ending at seven-under-par for the tournament.
As the tournament entered its final stages, Woods was tied for second place. But a final round of 74 (+3) saw him drop down the leaderboard, finishing tied for ninth at 9-under overall and missing out on a spot in the Junior Ryder Cup team.
The eventual winner of the Junior PGA Championship was Lunden Esterline, who tied a course record in round two and held a five-shot lead at one point. Esterline finished the tournament at 19-under, with Giuseppe Puebla and Tyler Mawhinney tying for second at 13-under.
In the girls section of the Junior PGA Championship, Asterisk Talley, the AJGA-ranked no.1 player and US Curtis Cup star, held the lead. Big names who have won the girls event in the past include Yuka Saso, Rose Zhang, Lexi Thompson, and Inbee Park.
Despite not winning the Junior PGA Championship, Woods can take pride in his strong performance and his recent victory at the Team TaylorMade AJGA Invitational. He will no doubt be back next year, aiming for another shot at the title.
Despite missing out on the Junior PGA Championship title, Charlie Woods delivered an impressive performance, scoring seven-under-par for the tournament and finding himself near the top of the leaderboard. In future events, such as the Junior Ryder Cup, golf enthusiasts can expect him to continue showcasing his skills on the golf course.
