Youngsters tee it up at The Cedars

By Michael Dashiell • August 9, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photos by Michael Dashiell Jedidiah Ahern of Poulsbo tees off on the 10th hole at the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup on July 25 at The Cedars at Dungeness. Ahern finished eighth in the boys 8-11 division.
Sequim Gazette photos by Michael Dashiell Jedidiah Ahern of Poulsbo tees off on the 10th hole at the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup on July 25 at The Cedars at Dungeness. Ahern finished eighth in the boys 8-11 division.

Some of the top young golfers took on “Old Crabby” and other challenging links at The Cedars at Dungeness last week, as the Washington Junior Golf Association hosted the WJGA Cup on July 25 and 26.

The Cup is one of the WJGA’s marquee tournaments of the season, with about 190 players from across the state in ages ranging from 13-17 competing for championships in their respective age groups.

Ben Barrett of Spokane won the overall boys 14-18 title, shooting back-to-back rounds of 68 for an 8-under 136 finish. Niuniu Zhao of Woodinville topped the field in the girls 14-18 division, shooting a two-day 146 (2-over-par).

Ryan Takeshita of Auburn and James Bordeaux of University Place each carded six birdies and an eagle in a single round, and Takeshita led the tourney with 12 par-breaking holes. Callan Anderson of Wenatchee had quite a second round with a tourney-high eight birdies.

Age group winners

Boys 16-18 — Ryan Takeshita, Auburn, 139* (72-67)

Boys 14-15 — Ben Barrett, Spokane, 136 (68-68) -8

Boys 12-13 — Jacob (Jiaxiang) Cai, Bellevue, 144* (73-71)

Boys 8-11 — Jairo Sanchez-Godinez, Everett, 76 (39-37)

Girls 16-18 — Charlotte Giffin, Woodinville, 152 (77-75)

Girls 14-15 — Niuniu Zhao, Woodinville, 146 (72-74)

Girls 12-13 — Cienna Lee, Lacey, 145 (73-72)

Girls 8-11 — Lily Nguyen, Federal Way, 82 (42-40)

* — Denotes won in a playoff

See full results at tinyurl.com/SEQwjga.

Karen Ngethe of Edmonds tees off on the second hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25, in the first round of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup. Ngethe placed seventh in the girls 8-11 division.

Karen Ngethe of Edmonds tees off on the second hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25, in the first round of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup. Ngethe placed seventh in the girls 8-11 division.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Nina Holly of Kent tees off on the second hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25, in the first round of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup. Holly placed third in the girls 8-11 division, shooting a 13-over-par 85 over 18 holes — three shots back of division winner Lily Nguyen of Federal Way.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Nina Holly of Kent tees off on the second hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25, in the first round of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup. Holly placed third in the girls 8-11 division, shooting a 13-over-par 85 over 18 holes — three shots back of division winner Lily Nguyen of Federal Way.

Vani Pillai of Bothell looks to sink a putt on the first hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25, in the first round of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup. Pallai placed sixth in the girls 8-11 division.

Vani Pillai of Bothell looks to sink a putt on the first hole at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25, in the first round of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup. Pallai placed sixth in the girls 8-11 division.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Ben Bautista of Gig Harbor hits a drive off the 10th tee at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25. Bautista finished tied for third in the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup’s boys 8-11 division, completing the 18 holes in an 8-over-par 80.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Ben Bautista of Gig Harbor hits a drive off the 10th tee at The Cedars at Dungeness on July 25. Bautista finished tied for third in the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup’s boys 8-11 division, completing the 18 holes in an 8-over-par 80.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / About 200 young golfers prepare to tee up on July 25, the first day of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup, at The Cedars at Dungeness.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / About 200 young golfers prepare to tee up on July 25, the first day of the Washington Junior Golf Association’s WJGA Cup, at The Cedars at Dungeness.