BETHESDA, Md. (Aug. 1, 2024) — Moving Day at the 48th Junior PGA Championships saw both familiar and new names atop a crowded leaderboard. Another hot day on the Blue Course at Congressional Country Club proved challenging for the girls early before the boys fired 25 rounds under par in the afternoon.
Heading into the final round, Kinsley Ni and Alice Zhao are tied atop the Girls Division at 7-under 208, while four players lead the Boys at 6-under 209: Adam Villanueva, Jake Birdwell, Giovanni Binaghi and Asher Vargas.
The sole girls leader coming into the day, Ni shot a steady even-par 72 on Thursday to remain at 7-under for the championship. The No. 13-ranked junior on the Rolex AJGA Rankings is in prime position with one round left to play.
“I had three birdies and three bogeys today,” said Ni, who tied for second at the 2023 Girls Junior PGA Championship. “The pins are harder than yesterday, I think. So, my irons were a little off today…Just looking forward to the last day.”
Ni and Zhao, both from China, battled in the final group as the girls played in the morning wave, both holding the solo lead at times during the round. Zhao finished strong on the back nine, with birdies on the par-5, 494-yard 11th and par-4, 397-yard 15th holes to finish 1-under 71.
“I feel like I was definitely putting better towards the end,” said Zhao, one of the youngest players in the field at age 15. “I was just trying to lag it up if I have a longer putt and try to capitalize on the shots. I’ll just try to play my best tomorrow and not think too much.”
Avery McCrery, of Wilmington, Delaware, is two strokes behind the leaders in third place at 5-under 210 following a nearly bogey-free round of 4-under 68.
Elizabeth Rudisill from Charlotte, North Carolina, sits fourth after carding the lowest round of the day among the girls—a 5-under 67 that included seven birdies. The 17-year-old Vanderbilt commit jumped 14 spots up the leaderboard and now sits at 4-under 211 after 54 holes.
“I made a 25 footer on 1, which really caught me off guard,” said Rudisill, the No. 12-ranked junior. “I was just going for the two-putt par. Then the momentum kept going and I hit it to 2 feet on hole 2. So it just kept going from there.”
Helen Yeung from Clarksville, Maryland, and Madison Messimer from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, are tied for fifth at 3-under 212.
Among the boys, Villanueva climbed 16 spots to the top of the leaderboard after recording a 6-under 66 Thursday for the low round of the day, which was matched by just one other player (Lev Grinberg from Ukraine, who is tied for 10th). The Austin, Texas, native entered the day at even par for the championship before carding nine birdies against three bogeys, with six of the birdies coming on the back nine.
“I feel relieved,” said the 17-year-old Villanueva, who is committed to the University of Texas. “I went into this tournament just waiting to make something happen.
“It kind of started on number 11. Starting off with a birdie on the par five, let’s keep it rolling. On number 12, I duck-hooked my 3-wood into the trees and I chipped out in the rough and I was like, ‘Oh, no, I might not get up and down.’ And then I just hit my third shot, rolled up, went in the cup. And then after that, that train just started rolling.”
Birdwell, who entered the day tied for fourth, has had a more steady rise up the leaderboard as one of just two boys under par in all three rounds. The Blaine, Minnesota, native shot 2-under 70 on Thursday, highlighted by four birdies, including back-to-back on the par-4, 388-yard 1st and par-3, 215-yard 2nd to open his round.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty steady,” said the University of Illinois commit. “Nothing’s been amazing, but nothing’s been horrible. [Starting with two birdies] was good. I did the same thing yesterday. Kind of just gets you going, gives you a little momentum. I kind of slowed down, but I think I played good all day.”
Binaghi joined Birdwell as the only other boy under par the first three rounds. The Italian made four birdies and briefly held the solo lead before a late bogey on the 16th hole, but he remained positive heading into the final round.
“I played pretty good,” said Binaghi, the No. 12-ranked junior boys golfer in the AJGA rankings. “I started 1-over after four, but I know I was playing good, so I wasn’t worried about that. I made a couple of birdies and then unfortunately a bogey on 16 with not a good third shot. I didn’t make a putt for the third day in a row, but it’s okay. Hope tomorrow I’m gonna make a few more.”
Vargas, who shared the lead coming into the day, held steady with a 1-under 71 in the final grouping of the day. The Spring, Texas, native had a relatively clean card with two birdies and one bogey while fighting through a bit of back pain for four or five holes down the stretch.
“I think I held it together well,” said the 16-year-old Vargas. “I didn’t have as many opportunities as yesterday, but when I got in trouble I had a par save. I would make the par saves even though the birdies didn’t drop. My goal today was to follow up yesterday with a steady, maybe 1- or 2-under par round on this course. I knew that would keep me in it, and I did that so I have no complaints.”
Five boys are tied just behind the leaders for fifth at 5-under 210: Baylor Larrabee of Ferndale, Washington (5-under 67); Jake Albert of Blacksburg, Virginia (4-under 68); No. 11-ranked junior Will Hartman of Marvin, North Carolina (4-under 68); Talon Dingledine of North Chesterfield, Virginia (3-under 69); and Xander Goboy of Chesapeake, Virginia (even-par 72).
The 54-hole cutline came in at 4-over for the Girls after play ended, sending 30 competitors into the final round. In the Boys Division, the cutline was 1-over, with 31 advancing.
The 48th Junior PGA Championships will conclude Friday on the Blue Course at Congressional Country Club, with play beginning at 7:10 a.m. ET.
Eight from Middle Atlantic PGA Section Make the Cut
Of the 11 junior golfers from the host Middle Atlantic PGA Section who made the initial cut, eight made the second cut.
Girls Division:
- T-5: Helen Yeung (Clarksville, Maryland), 3-under 212
- T-12: Kathryn Ha (Roanoke, Virginia), even-par 215
- T-12: Macie Rasmussen (Chesapeake, Virginia), even-par 215
- T-20: Zoe Cusack (Potomac, Maryland), 2-over 217
Boys Division:
- T-5: Talon Dingledine (North Chesterfield, Virginia), 5-under 210
- T-5: Xander Goboy (Chesapeake, Virginia), 5-under 210
- T-5: Jake Albert (Blacksburg, Virginia), 5-under 210
- T-12: Logan Reilly (Lovettsville, Virginia), 3-under 212
For more information about the Junior PGA Championships, visit JuniorPGAChampionship.com and follow on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
