Flashback to ATI Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World 2019 presented by AKI

Last year at about this time, the ATI Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World 2019 presented by AKI, the first event sanctioned by the JGTA in the history of the Tour, took place at Damai Indah Golf’s PIK Course. From the opening ceremonies to the impressive play, coverage, and finish, the event goes down in JGTA history as a fan favorite, and the Tour looks forward to future Ciputra Golfprenuer Junior Worlds.

Damai Indah Golf, the stage for the event, underwent a complete makeover come time for the show, including hundreds of signs and multiple stages, ready for over 120 competitors from 20+ countries.

Jung Soo Yang (2021) o­f Brisbane, Australia shocked the field in round one at JGTA Ciputra, firing an 8-under-par 64 in the Boy’s Class A Division. Yang made three eagles on the day – two of which were on par-4’s. Not only did he hole out from the fairway en route to an eagle on the par-4 9th, but he did it again on the par-4 11th. Yang was just two strokes shy of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World scoring record of 62.

Leading the charge in the JGTA Division and trailing Yang by three strokes in the Boy’s Class A division was Jakarta local and JGTA Bogor Junior Championship hosted by Sentul Highlands Golf Club champion Kentaro Nanayama (2021). Nanayama had a bogey-free round one to finish at 5-under-par 67.

Leading the Boy’s Class B division was JGTA Hong Kong Junior Classic Champion and Junior Order of Merit leader at the time, Pongsapak Laodpakdee (2023) of Rayong, Thailand. Laopakdee fired a 1-under-par 71 and trailed Nanayama by four strokes in the JGTA Division. Following close behind was Jaoquin Ethan Hernandez (2023) of Muntinlupa, Philippines with a first-round score of even-par 72.

In the Boy’s Class C Division, Chaiyaphat Wongwien of Thailand shot a 3-under-par score of 69 and held a 10-shot lead heading into moving day.

Defending champion Phannarai Meesom-Us (2022) of Chonburi, Thailand came out of the gate hot in windy conditions, firing a first-round score of 5-under-par 67. She made seven birdies on the day and held a five-shot lead over Megan Julia Streicher (2021) of Cape Town, South Africa.

Leading the charge in the JGTA Division was JiaYang Lu (2020) of Chengdu, China, firing a first-round score of 3-over-par 75. She is trailed closely by Nicole Abelar (2019) of the Philippines and Natachanok Tunwannarux (2023) of Bangkok, Thailand.

JGTA Bogor Junior Championship winner and Jakarta local Kentaro Nanayama (2021) matched his first-round score of 5-under-par 67 to take over the Boys Overall Division and to extend his lead in the JGTA division at 10-under-par through 36. Nanayama was ranked 4th on the Junior Order of Merit at this time, and a win here would lock up a high ranking on the Junior Order of Merit.

“I really need to be up in the top-5 in the Junior Order of Merit because I am heading to the U.S. this summer. If I can earn Fully Exempt (AJGA PBE Status) then it will really help me play the AJGA events that I really want to play. Second, this is the biggest junior event in Indonesia itself, and if I can make a big statement here that would be nice for me”, said Nanayama.

Trailing Nanayama in the Boy’s Overall Division was Kieron Carl Van Wyk (2020) of Johannesburg, South Africa. Wyk shot a second-round score of 4-under-par 68, putting him at a tournament total of 6-under-par 138.

Joaquin Ethan Hernandez (2023) of Muntinlupa, Philippines, and Pongsapak Laopakdee (2023) of Rayong, Thailand were tied for second in the JGTA Division, at even-par for the event.

In the Girls Overall Division, defending champion Phannarai Meesom-Us (2022) of Chonburi, Thailand maintained her first-place position after shooting a second-round score of 1-over-par 73. Meesom was at 4-under-par for the tournament through round two, 3 strokes ahead of Megan Julia Streicher (2021) of Capetown, South Africa.

There was a tie atop the Girls JGTA Division leader board between Phoebe Peng (2022) of Shenzhen, China, and Natachanok Tunwannarux (2023) of Bangkok, Thailand. Peng shot 2-under-par 70 today, while Tunwannarux shot even-par 72.

JGTA Bogor Junior Championship winner and Jakarta local Kentaro Nanayama (2021) dusted the field in the final round, finishing with scores of 67-67-72, for a tournament total of 10-under-par 206, the best tournament total score in JGTA history at the time. Nanayama calls Damai Indah Golf’s PIK course his home and shooting a score of 67 (twice) is his course record. This win for Nanayama meant much more than you can imagine. With this win, he finished in the top-5 on the Junior Order of Merit, punching his ticket with Fully Exempt AJGA PBE Status to play on the AJGA circuit for the next two years. In addition, with his win, Nanayama received an exemption into the Asian Development Tour’s Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament presented by Panasonic, taking place in August at Damai Indah Golf’s BSD Course.

Coming in a tie for second behind Nanayama in the Boy’s Overall Division was Kieron Carl Van Wyk (2020) of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Sean Lee (2021) of Singapore. Both players finished at 2-under-par for the tournament.

Hong Kong Junior Classic at Clearwater Bay champion Pongsapak Laopakdee (2023) of Rayong, Thailand finished in second place in the JGTA Division – earning him the title of JGTA Boys Player of the Year and JGTA Junior Order of Merit Champion. Laopakdee completed the season with two runner-up finishes and a win under his belt.

In the Girls Overall Division, defending champion Phannarai Meesom-Us (2022) of Chonburi, Thailand went back to back, winning in 2018 and 2019. Meesom-Us shot a final-round score of 1-under-par 71.

2018 JGTA Phuket Junior Open champion Natachanok Tunwannarux (2023) of Bangkok, Thailand was crowned a JGTA Champion once again, taking home the JGTA Girl’s Division. Tunwannarux shot 77-72-73 to finish with a tournament total of 6-over-par 222. Last summer, Tunwannarux became an AJGA champion, winning the Foley Performance Academy @ EaglesDream Junior All-Star.