Highlights from the 2023 PGA WEST® Junior Championship

Sunny skies, fair temps, light breezes—the weather gods were smiling down on La

Quinta for the return of the PGA WEST® Junior Championship held

June 20-23 on the PGA WEST® Nicklaus Tournament Course.

Now in its second year at PGA WEST, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event field consisted of 78 players aged 12-19, including 21 AJGA winners, playing a stroke play format. The young golfers definitely took advantage of the great weather and course conditions, with several shooting under par.

Wheaton Ennis from Litchfield Park, Arizona claimed victory for the Boys Division for a second win this year.

The Girls Division champion was Yujie Liu of Encinitas, California who shot a 13 under par 216, winning her first AJGA event and first victory in any golf tournament. Liu also came in with the lowest score for the week in the Girls Division during the second round, 65, for 7 under par.

Below are the results for the top 5 of each division:

Boys Division

1st Wheaton Ennis 69 65 70 -12

Litchfield Park, AZ

2nd Tucker Sweeney 74 64 71 -7

Pasadena, CA

3rd Luke Dariotis 67 74 69 -6

Sacramento, CA

T-4th Jared Abercrombie 73 69 70 -4

Simi Valley, CA

T-4th Bradley Smolinski 72 69 71 -4

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Girls Division

1st Yujie Liu 66 65 72 -13

(China) Encinitas, CA

2nd Yu-Chu Chen 71 67 70 -8

Vancouver, WA

3rd Kuree Little 70 68 72 -6

Palmdale, CA

T-4th Chloe Kim 68 71 72 -5

Whittier, CA

T-4th Zoe Sprecher 70 70 71 -5

Sierra Madre, CA

Founded in 1978 by sportswriter Mike Bentley, the nonprofit American Junior Golf Association is dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Morgan Pressel, Jordan Spieth, Inbee Park, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Cristie Kerr, and many other PGA and LPGA professionals. Learn more at www.ajga.org