Pictured above from left to right: Sarah Meral, Eli Mitchell, James Grimes III, and Sophia Macias.

Northwood Draws Top Juniors to PGA Championship

The Gulf States Junior PGA Championship took place at Northwood Country Club on Wednesday, June 17th. Seventy-six players competed in the event. Due to uncertainty regarding Covid-19, the National Jr PGA Boys & Girls Championships have been cancelled. In light of the situation, the Gulf States changed the local 2-day qualifier to a 1-day event for the juniors of Mississippi and Louisiana, to provide a playing opportunity as they get back to competitive golf.

Sarah Meral (Abita Springs, LA) took the girls 16-18 and overall girls division with an outstanding score of one-under par, 70, including four birdies! Grace Sinclair (Brandon, MS) fired a four-over par, 75 to claim second place. Coming in third place was Blair Mckenzie (Madisonville, LA) with a score of 79.

The boys 16-18 division featured three scores that we under par. Eli Mitchell (Meridian, MS) took the first-place title with a two-under par score, 69. Mitchell also won the overall boys division. Patrick Blaum (Covington, LA) was second with a score of even par, 71. Rounding out the division in third place was Logan Batiste (Slidell, LA) and Walker Wise (Belden, MS) with a two-over par, 73.

In the girls 13-15 division, Hannah Grace Hinckley (McComb, MS) took first place by six shots with a score of four-over par, 75. Teagan Connors (New Orleans, LA) and Harper Hinckley (McComb, MS) tied for second with a score of 81.

Alston Manne (Baton Rouge, LA) won the boys 13-15 division with an even par, 71. Landon Germany (Brandon, MS) took second in the division with a score of four-over, 75. Rounding out the division was Brady Lagendyk (Meridian, MS) and Eli Hill (Bossier City, LA) shooting five-over par, 76.

James Grimes III (Covington, LA) won the boys 12 and under division with a nine-hole score of one-under par, 35 by a scorecard playoff over Hudson Greene (Bossier City, LA). Sophia Macias (Denham Springs, LA) won the girls 12 and under division with a nine-hole score of even par, 36.

Special thanks to all of the junior golfers who participated in our Championship! The Gulf States Section would also like to thank the entire staff at Northwood Country Club, including General Manager and PGA Member Billy Pomeroy, Host PGA Head Professional Kyle Carpenter, and Head Golf Course Superintendent, Britt Pollock.

Click here for full results.