Utah Shoots 13-under Par to Take Round 2 Lead at Ruby Hill
The second round of the 50th Annual Junior America’s Cup, hosted by the Junior Golf Association of Northern California, is in the books with Utah firing a 13-under par 203 in Round 2, to take a seven-stroke lead over Arizona and Mexico 1. Utah is at 19-under (423) for two days heading into the final round. Leading the way for Utah was Parker Bunn who tied the course record shooting 63, including a back nine, 7-under par 29. He started his back nine with six strait birdies. Utah’s other scores include Kihei Akina’s 69, Cooper Jones’ 71 and Boston Bracken’s 75.
Arizona and Mexico 1 are tied for 2nd place, at 12-under par, team totals of 430. Arizona shot an 8-under par 208 for round 2, while Mexico 1 shot 2-under 214. Rylan Johnson continues to pace Arizona, as he leads overall individually after shooting 2-under par 70, for a two-day total of 8-under par 136. Additional Round 2 scores for Arizona include Carlos Astiazaran and Johnnie Clark who both shot 69’s, while Adam Miller fired a 1-under par 71. Mexico 1 is lead by Eduardo Derbez who was the round 1 co-leader. Derbez shot even par 72 in round 2, as he sits at 5-under par 139 and is tied for 5th place. Additional Round 2 scores for Mexico 1 include Manual Barbachano who shot 69, Rafael Estrada who shot 73 and Francisco Solorza who shot 75.
Individually, Arizona’s Rylan Johnson is leading the field at 8-under par 136, and Utah’s Parker Bunn is at 6-under par 138. There are four players tied for 3rd place at 5-under par 139, including Clark Van Gaalen from Northern California (74-65), Carlos Astiazaran from Arizona (70-69), Josh Koo from Southern California (66-73) and Eduardo Derbez (67-70).
Like a collegiate event, the Junior America’s Cup features 18 teams of four boys representing their state, province or country. The competition takes place over 3 days with 18-holes played each day for a total of 54-holes played to determine the winning team. Each team counts its best three scores each round with the low scoring team after 54-holes being crowned the 2021 champions and presented with the champions medals & trophy.
The 2022 competition marks the 50th anniversary of the Junior America’s Cup championship and the fourth time it will be held in Northern California. The previous time the event was
hosted in Northern California was 2004 which was at San Joaquin Country Club, in Fresno, California. The team from Mexico won the championship that year. Junior America’s Cup Alumni from the 2004 Championship include Tony Finau (team Utah) who just won PGA Tour events the past two weeks, as well as Andrew Putman and Kyle Stanley.
Past Junior America’s Cup participants who have gone on to successful professional careers include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler, Ryan Moore, Kyle Stanley and Tony Finau.
Situated in the heart of the Livermore Wine Valley, The Club at Ruby Hill was etched into the landscape on fertile land originally occupied by the Ruby Hill Winery.
The original grape-growing property was founded by John Crellin in 1887, with money made in the oyster trade. It was named for the bright red soil its vineyards boasted. The winery was eventually abandoned, and in 1989 it burned, leaving only a few walls standing.
The land then transferred to the Catholic Church and subsequently to Wente Vineyards. In 1985, a friend and business partner of Jack Nicklaus’ approached luxury home developer Jim Ghielmetti with the idea of building the area’s first-ever Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Golf Course in Northern California. Mr. Ghielmetti approached the Wente Family and shared his vision for the land. In 1987, the process was started to secure all of the government approvals and move forward with the project.
Construction on the golf course began on Labor Day 1993, with Jack Nicklaus supervising every detail. The Club at Ruby Hill opened its doors in 1996.
