RICHMOND, KY (June 30, 2020) – If you were looking for the next rising star in Kentucky Junior Golf, Warren Thomis has certainly introduced himself to those looking for a figure to follow the next several years. Thomis, who will graduate high school in 2024, captured the Championship Division in the Kentucky Boys Junior PGA Championship on Tuesday by seven strokes over defending champion Benny Haggin as he ran away with the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour’s season-opening competition at Gibson Bay Golf Course.

Thomis got off to a fast start in his final round and never allowed his competitors much hope to catch him as a round of 68 (-4) boosted his total score to 137 (-7). Birdies on the par-three 3^rd and par-four 5^th holes opened an early cushion while his closest challengers at the start of the round stumbled out of the gates. Before long, Thomis was able to extend his lead by as many as eight strokes during the back nine. Two consecutive bogeys on the 15^th and 16^th holes proved insignificant, especially when Thomis walked off by holing a chip shot on the 18^th green for birdie.

“My putting was really solid this week,” Thomis said. “My short game and wedges were key in making this happen too because it felt like I got everything up and down these last two days. Last year I blew a lead on day two in a younger division and eventually lost in a playoff for second place, so I was really motivated to win this year in an older division so it feels good to get it done. Next up I’ve got a Kentucky Open qualifier at Boone’s Trace National Golf Club on Thursday and then in mid-July I’ll be going to Georgia to compete in an AJGA tournament.”

Several other players join Thomis in the winner’s circle today, beginning with Joe Hamilton. Hamilton defeated Luke Daley on the first playoff hole to win the 15-18 Division after both players finished the tournament at 154 (+10).

Jacob Settles blitzed Gibson Bay today by coming from behind to win the 14 & Under Division by four strokes thanks to a tidy round of 66 (-6). His margin of victory was four strokes over Sam Guest.

Luc Kelty overtook Winston Zhuang in a playoff for the 11-12 Division. After both players finished the tournament at 83 (+11), Kelty won on the first playoff hole.

Drayden Lindsay gets off to a hot start this season with a win in the 10 & Under Division. A total score of 80 (+8) earned him a three-stroke win over Hunter Majors.

Rounding out the list of champions, Krish Kumar ended the tournament at 117 (+45) to beat Reddick Johnson by nine strokes in the 8 & Under Division.

NOTES AND STATS

• Jacob Settles’ round of 66 (-6) was the round of the day, besting Thomis’ score by two strokes. Settles had a remarkable eleven shot improvement today compared to a 77 (+5) on Monday. His round today featured seven birdies with only one bogey.
• Derek Limberg made the sole eagle of today’s play on the par-five 2^nd hole. He would go onto finish in twenty-sixth place.
• That 2^nd hole was today’s easiest of the competition playing at an average score to par of -0.12. Along with Limberg’s eagle, twenty birdies were made on it.
• For the second straight day, the par-four 11^th played the hardest of any hole on course. At +0.69, forty-nine players took bogey or worse walking off this green.

Click here to view the final results

The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour would like to thank all players and their families who participated in the Kentucky Boys Junior PGA Championship and for following the adjusted tournament protocols in place due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Tour will now stay in Richmond the next two days as it is now the ladies’ turn to compete in the Kentucky Girls Junior PGA Championship at The University Club at Arlington. Tee times and other information can be found by clicking here.