Keep an eye on Diya Kumar come the 2025-2026 Junior Tour of Northern California season.
Kumar, who is still just a junior in high school, made it a wire-to-wire win at the annual JTNC Tour Championship at Poppy Hills. The Fremont resident posted rounds of 71-76 to finish at 5-over 147, good enough for a two-shot victory over runner-up Medha Kotti of Folsom.
"It was a really amazing experience. The course was great to play on and I had a lot of fun," Kumar said. "It was really cool."
Kotti, a sophomore in high school, shot a final round 71 to come in at 149.
Third place went to Thanyanate Bhummabhuti at 151 following a final round 76
Kumar's previous best finish during the season was a tie for second at the Fall Series VI Championship.
"I was just trying to focus on playing my best," Kumar said. "I was a little bit nervous, but it all paid off in the end."
Rocklin resident Blake Whittington passed the pressure cooker test.
Whittington, a junior in high school, watched his five-shot first-round lead evaporate, but came back later to claim a one-shot win over runner-up Richard Ding.
"I haven't had this big of a lead in a tournament before, so it was a different kind of feeling," Whittington said. "It was good to pull through."
Coming off a first-round 66, Whittington struggled early in the final round, posting a front-nine 38. To make things worse, on the par-5 10th, he carded a double-bogey.
While Whittington was falling, Becker Brown, who shot a first-round 72, was able to capitalize. In a stretch from holes Nos. 7 through 10, Brown went 4-under thanks to two birdies and an eagle to forge a tie with Whittington.
But then Brown slipped, carding a double-bogey on the par-4 13th to fall two shots behind. Brown never threatened again, finishing T-4 after a 74.
With Brown falling to the wayside, it was time for 2024-2025 Player of the Year Richard Ding to enter the fray. Coming off a first-round 73, Ding closed with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th to get in the clubhouse at a total of 1-over 143, just two behind Whittington.
All the attention then shifted back to Whittington. Needing at least a bogey on the closing 18th to avoid a playoff, Whittington made just that, finishing with a 76 to edge Ding by one.
"I just tried to stay patient. I was sort of rushing at times," Whittington said. "On 18, I took a look at the leaderboard. I was very cautious about putting on the last hole. It feels good to get it done."
The 2025-2026 JTNC season begins Aug. 16-17 with the Fall Series I Championship at Cypress Lakes GC in Vacaville.
For the schedule and more info on the JTNC, please visit jtnc.ncga.org
