Top-10 Moments of 2018

There is no telling what action could unfold during JGTA tournaments in the 2018-2019 season. Let’s have a look at some of the best moments from last season.

Junyi Tang (2021) of Beijing, China sat just behind multiple Taiwanese players heading into the final round of the JGTA Taiwan Junior Championship after firing first round score of 73 and second round score of 72. The rain picked up late in the final round and tested the players atop the leaderboard. Tang battled on and posted a score of 74. He entered the clubhouse thinking that it was not his day, but his score held up, and he was crowned champion of the JGTA Taiwan Junior Championship.

Bhitchayoot Sima-Aree (2019) of Nonthaburi, Thailand is no stranger to shooting scores in the 60s but shocked the JGTA Phuket Junior Open field when he posted a second-round score of 66. He sat 6 shots behind the leader Boy after round one and his second round was a turning point in the tournament. He finished with scores of 75-66-72 and won the tournament in a playoff.

Jiakun Li (2019) of Shanghai, China tapped in his put on 18 knowing that he had just posted the best score of his career, but not knowing if it was good enough to top the field. Sitting 3 shots back heading into the final round, Li’s outstanding 66 catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard, securing his first ever JGTA victory.

The inaugural 2017 Bintan Lagoon Junior Championship presented by dwell Student Living was won by Camille Boyd (2020) of (USA) Shanghai, China and Jiakun Li (2019) of Shanghai, China. Boyd posted scores of 72-74-72, capturing her victory 11 shots ahead of the next best player in the field. Li shot 77-78-66 to finish 8 shots ahead. Boyd and Li held their trophies proudly overlooking the South China Sea in an indescribable moment of JGTA history.

Professional Golfer C.T. Pan showed his support in many ways including attending the final round and awards ceremony of the JGTA Taiwan Junior Championship. Pan, a University of Washington Alum, competed in many AJGA events as a junior player and was named second-team Rolex Junior All-American in 2009. Pan expressed the importance of the JGTA’s emergence in Asia while crowning the JGTA Taiwan Junior Championship winners.

As part of the JGTA’s initiative to provide mentorship and opportunities to Asia’s top juniors, a Junior Pro-Am was held at the JGTA Taiwan Junior Championship. Ten current and former professional players from the TPGA (Taiwan), TLPGA (Taiwan), and the JPGA (Japan) including Hsu Wei Lin and Taiwan legend Lu Wen De paired up with Junior and Amateur golfers to compete in the first-ever JGTA Junior-Pro-Am.

65+ attendees watched on as the first-ever sudden-death playoff occurred at the JGTA Phuket Junior Open. Bhitchayoot Sima-Aree (2019) of Nonthaburi, Thailand, and Yu Yu Chen (2022) of Taoyuan, Taiwan. The players came into the clubhouse at even-par in the final round and were instructed to head to the 18th tee. Both players went shot for shot until they arrived at the green on the second hole of the playoff. Sima-Aree sank his put to secure his victory. The playoff was streamed in its entirety on Facebook Live.

Class of 2023 powerhouse Natachanok Tunwannarux of Bangkok, Thailand sat 3 shots back heading into the final round of the JGTA Phuket Junior Open. A steady front nine led to her making big moves on the back nine. A clutch downhill putt that seemed impossible gave her the edge as she headed to the 17th tee. She maintained her lead, posted a final-round 2-under 69, and clinched the JGTA Phuket Junior Open Victory.

The “Heart of a Champion” award is given to a player who stands out in terms of character, attitude, passion, and much more on and off the golf course at each JGTA Event. Congratulations to the 2017-2018 recipients of the Heart of a Champion Award:

• Miao Yunmeng (2023) of Luoyang, China at the JGTA Bintan Lagoon Junior Championship presented by dwell Student Living
• Willy Chen (2022) of Taipei, Taiwan at the JGTA Taiwan Junior Championship
• Janamol Pichainavee (2023) of Songkhla, Thailand at the JGTA Phuket Junior Open.

The final standings on the JGTA Junior Order of Merit were announced in early May. 60 JGTA competitors walked away from the JGTA’s inaugural season with newly earned American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) PBE Status. Some of these status earners are AJGA vets and others are brand new to the AJGA. These competitors traveled to compete on junior golf’s greatest stage this summer and shocked the AJGA circuit.