BDGA Jr Match Play Champions Crowned
Four new champions were crowned at Sheridan Park GC in the latest iteration of the BDGA Junior Match Play Championship.
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In the Boys’ 18U Division, Cole Jones needed just twelve holes to win the championship match over Caleb Occhino. But the reigning BDGA Junior Player of the Year was nearly eliminated in the Round of 16. He went 21 holes with Rogan Kaifas but eventually pulled out a win to advance to the quarterfinals.
He would defeat Connor Jackson, 2 & 1, before besting Adam Cichowski, 3 & 2, in the semifinals to set up the championship match with the top-seeded Occhino. Jones, who also won the 2024 BDGA Junior Stroke Play Championship, shot a 72 in the stroke play qualifying round to earn the third seed headed into match play. He jumped out to an early lead and never let up, winning 7 & 6 to win his first 18U Match Play title. He won the 14U Match Play championship in 2022, where he was also awarded Sub-Junior Player of the Year in the same season.
He also recently finished in the top-15 at the 102nd BDGA Individual Championship at Cloverbank CC.
In the Girls’ 18U Division, Charlotte Occhino defeated Eliana Wierzbowski, 2 & 1, to win her first BDGA championship a year after finishing runner-up in the 2024 BDGA Junior Stroke Play Championship. After shooting 80 (+7) and earning the top seed in the stroke play qualifying round, Occhino immediately advanced to the championship match after her opponent conceded the semifinal match.
Wierzbowski, on the other hand, handily beat Hanna Adymy 5 & 4 to advance to the championship showdown against Occhino.
In the Boys’ 14U Division, Michael Jordan won his third consecutive title with a 9 & 8 win in the semifinals over Evan Utley followed by a 1-up win over Timmy Ray in the championship. The reigning BDGA Boys’ 14U Player of the Year also won the 2024 Boys’ 14U Stroke Play Championship, in addition to the 2023 Boys’ 14U Junior Match Play Championship.
He’s in prime position to make another run at the Boys’ 14U Player of the Year crown. Jordan recently logged a top-5 finish in the Erie County Amateur Championship as well as a T-27 finish at the NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur. He was also the top finisher out of Section VI in the NYS Boys’ HS Golf Championship.
In the Girls’ 14U Division, three-time BDGA champion Claire Brady added another title to her resume with a 3 & 2 victory over Bianca Adymy. This is Brady’s second win of the summer, as she also just captured the Erie County Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship (her second consecutive) at Grover Cleveland GC.
