MARICOPA, Ariz. — Two invites to the Golfweek International Junior Invitational were up for grabs as both boys and girls teed it up at the Golfweek South West Junior on Sunday at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.
Heading into Sunday’s final round on the girls’ side it was Jennifer Seo and Honorine Nobuta Ferry who paced the field. Both at 3 under, it was Ferry who out lasted Seo in the 18 hole dual.
Ferry used three back nine birdies to propel herself to the win despite giving up nearly six years of experience to Seo.
Tied with Seo after bogeying two of her last three holes on the 14th tee, Ferry and Seo traded birdies before Ferry made an eight foot birdie putt on the par 5 16th to take a one shot lead.
Carding pars on Nos. 17 and 18, Ferry clinched the title despite being given “multiple heart attacks” by Seo.
With the win, the 12-year old from West Palm Beach, Florida, earned eight American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) performance stars as well as a coveted spot in November’s series finale, the Golfweek International Junior Invitational.
The win could also kick start what Ferry hopes to be a Hall of Fame worthy golf career. We could be hearing plenty more of Ferry as her goal is to turn pro and win at least 5 majors before it’s all said and done.
Seo, Julia Herzberg (2 under), Natrada Pongsasin, and Raegan Capizzi (1 over) round out the top five.
ASU-commit wins boys division
On the boys’ side it was once again Anawin Pikulthong who took home the title.
Trailing by seven heading into the final round, Pikulthong, who plays for Hamilton High School in nearby Chandler, Arizona, and has committed to play college golf for the hometown Arizona State Sun Devils, relied on his previous experiences and some luck to close the gap.
“I didn’t play too well in the first round, but I found something on the range (last) night,” Pikulthong told Golfweek. “This morning came and I tested it out… I hit a couple of good shots in the first few holes and from then on I started to blend confidence and make some putts.”
Out in 3 under, Pikulthong kept that score until he eagled back-to-back par 4s. The par-4 14th was drivable for some in the field this week. Driving the green, Pikulthong nailed his eagle putt to move to 5 under. On the 430-yard par- 4 15th, Pikulthong holed out from 186 yards to make another jump towards his three-peat.
Bookmarking the deuces with birdies, Pikulthong went from 3 under to 8 under in a blink of an eye.
Closing it out with pars on 17 and 18, Pikulthong vaulted himself from fourth to first for his third straight victory in this event.
Finishing second is Alec Barker. His 4-under total would have been plenty clear of the field had it not been for Pikulthong’s back-nine heroics.
Rounding out the top five is 18 hole leader Ryan ‘O.T.’ Sefrioui (even par), Lyman Brackett (1 over), and Austin Plunkett (6 over).
Both Pikulthong and Ferry will be exempt into the season ending Golfweek International Junior Invitational in November. The next Golfweek junior event is the 2022 Golfweek New England Junior Open, July 13-14 at Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
If interested, sign your junior up here.
