PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (July 31, 2025) – The 2024-2025 Junior Tour of Northern California (JTNC) crowned champions at its ultimate event of the season.
Blake Whittington and Diya Kumar both win their respective divisions during the 2024-2025 JTNC Tour Championship.
In the Boy’s Championship flight, Blake Whittington made his first win on the Junior Tour in five attempts for the 2024-2025 season. Whittington produced quite the show during round one as he carded a 5-under 66 that saw him make seven birdies and just two bogeys. Round two tested a different side of Whittington’s game including both his mental strength and course management, looking to protect his lead and fend off any comeback from Richard Ding as the duo were side by side on the leaderboard heading into the final nine holes. In the end Whittington prevailed as champion with two clutch birdies down the stretch, enough to give him the one-shot victory over the next closest competitor! Whittington ends the 2024-2025 Junior Tour season ranked 11th on the Boys JTNC Player of the Year Standings.
Runner-up was awarded to Richard Ding at even-par after he carded rounds of 73-70, making a total of eight birdies with his most impressive play coming during his final five holes as he carded three birdies in making one last push for a winner’s medal. Third place went to Theo Anderson of San Rafael who finished at 3-over par 145, Theo carded a total of seven birdies with rounds of 74-71. Fourth place was not short of any surprises as it ended in a five-way tie; Lawrence Collins, Zachary Hawkins, Jaxen Castillo, Pranit Gupta, and Becker Brown were all part of the quintet level at 4-over par 146.
In the Girls’ Championship flight, Diya Kumar won by a total of two shots over Medha Kotti as she carded rounds of 71-76 to finish at 147. Diya’s stellar performance at this year’s Tour Championship makes it her third top five finish on the Junior Tour this season, leaving ranked 8th on the Girls JTNC Player of the Year Standings. Diya carded a total of three birdies; her best stretch of golf undoubtedly came throughout the first round after carding an even par 71 that included two birdies, fourteen pars, and just two bogeys. Although Diya’s lead seemed comfortable when looking at the leaderboard, it could have been an even bigger margin of victory as she struggled down the stretch during the final nine holes. Despite these misfortunes on the golf course Diya stuck to her game plan, executed her shots when it was needed most, and walked out of the clubhouse as a champion!
Second place was awarded to Medha Kotti of Folsom after consistent rounds of 78-71 to finish at even par 149. Medha carded a total of five birdies but fell shy of a potential winner’s medal after carding three bogeys on her final nine holes of play. This is Medha’s fourth top ten finish for the 2024-2025 JTNC season. Third place went to Thanyanate Bhummabhuti at 9-over par 151 as she carded rounds of 75-76, Thanyanate picked up three birdies to make it her first medal finish on the Junior Tour this season. Fourth place eventually went to Lucinda Wu of Monterey, turning in scores of 74-79 ending up at 11-over par 153. This is Lucinda’s fourth top five finish this season.