Abdulghany gains exemption to 40th Junior PGA Championship

Alyaa Abdulghany, a 16-year-old from Newport Beach, won the PGA Junior Series event at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee, Calif. Sunday to gain exemption into the 40th Junior PGA Championship.

Abdulghany, who attends Corona del Mar High, fired a 1-under-par 71 in the final round to win the girls’ division title by two strokes against runner-up Kaho Monica Matsubara, 17, of San Diego.

Abdulghany shot even in the first round and 3-under in the second round and finished at 4-under 212.

With a small cushion heading into the final holes, Abdulghany made a birdie on the par-4, 16th hole to extend her lead heading into the final two holes. Following her par on the difficult par-3, 17th hole, she piped her drive to about 100 yards on the 18th hole. She pulled the shot into the water just left of the 18th but was able to save bogey to secure her two-shot victory.

“After the three days of golf it always feels good to be victorious especially when you finish under par,” Abdulghany said in a release. “I was struggling for a decent part of [the final] round, but I kept my head on straight and ended up shooting a very good final round. On the last hole, I pulled my shot just left of the pin and ended up in the water, but I was able to save bogey on the hole.”

The 40th Junior PGA Championship takes place at Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas Aug. 3-6.

— From staff reports