Alaska’s top junior age group golfers have strong ties to the Soldotna area and to golf at the Birch Ridge Golf Course having basically grown up on the local links.
Arctic & Glacier Junior Golf Tournaments
Shane and Keely Sundberg competed in a pair of state junior golf events over the extended weekend, both capturing victories in the Arctic Junior and Glacier Junior golf tournaments.
At the Arctic Junior golf event at Settlers Bay, Shane Sundberg shot a round of 44, good for first place in the 10-12 year-old boys division. Keely Sundberg won the girls 10 and under girls division with a 69.
At the Glacier Junior golf event at the Palmer Golf Course, Shane again captures the championship with a one-over par 37 in the 10-12 boys division. Keely shot a 48 to win the girls 10 and under division.
39th Amateur Girls North & South Championship at Pinehurst Country Club
Katelin Richards, following a championship run through the Alaska State Open, traveled to North Carolina for the 39th Amateur Girls North & South Championship, held July 3-5 at the venerable Pinehurst Country Club. Katelin, who has grown up on the local links, played in a field of 90 top golfers from across the country. She qualified for the tournament through an exemption as the Alaska Junior Champion.
In Katelin’s first major, out-of-state national tournament; Katelin shot 84, 81, 82 over the three-day tournament and placed just below the middle of the pack.
The 39th Amateur Girls North & South Championship was played on the flagship Pinehurst No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort, a venue which has hosted the men’s and women’s US Open, Ryder Cup Matches, and PGA Championships.
Next on Katelin’s golf schedule, she will be defending her Alaska Women’s State Amateur Champion Title on August 3-6 at Moose Run Golf Course. Then she will be defending her Alaska Junior Amateur State Championship title August 7-8 at the Anchorage Golf Course.
