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RILEY ON A ROLL
EU sophomore blazes JGANC summer circuit
Brooke-Riley-1
East Union sophomore Brooke Riley won two JGANC tournaments this past week and also won the Turlock Junior title on Tuesday at Turlock Golf & Country Club. - photo by File photos by Jonomar Jacinto


East Union standout Brooke Riley has been on a streak this summer.

Riley won her fourth Junior Golf Association of Northern California summer tournament on Tuesday, capping the two-day Turlock Junior with a 150 at Turlock’s Golf & Country Club for the girls’ 12-17 division.

It was her second JGANC victory in the last six days.

“She won at Micke Grove on Sunday, and then she won (in Turlock) on Tuesday,” said Dennis Wells, Riley’s high school golf coach at East Union. “She plays very well there, and the course just fits her well.”

Riley shot a 2-under 70 at Lodi’s Micke Grove, edging Jennifer Kim (Tracy) and Melissa Yao (Alameda), who both shot one-over 73s.

In Turlock, Riley shot a 1-under 71 in the first round, followed by a 79 in the second to win the tourney by seven strokes (+6).

She not only took home a trophy, but she was awarded a golf bag and a $500 gift certificate to the Turlock CC pro shop as well.

Riley, the Bulletin’s All-Area Girls Golf MVP as a freshman, had five birdies, one bogey and one double bogey Monday.

On Tuesday she birdied once on the front nine (+1), but on the back she struggled. Riley finished up 6-over on the back with four bogeys.

“She improved her distance off the tee and getting her swing speed up,” Wells said of his star pupil’s summer progress. “That’s a big improvement. She’s been outdriving all the girls by 20 or 30 yards. The last few (tournaments) is probably the best I’ve seen her hit the ball.”

Riley also took first place at the Pine Meadow Tour I in Martinez (April 20), Micke Grove Junior Series #3 (June 23), Micke Grove Junior Series #4 (Aug.4) and this week’s.

She didn’t finish any lower than fourth this summer, either.

Riley just missed the top three at the First Tee Tri-Valley Pleasanton Junior Open (April 28) and improved to third at the Shoreline Junior Classic in Mountain View (June 21).

She took fourth again at both the Bumgardner Junior Memorial at Modesto’s Del Rio Country Club (July 8-9) and at the JGANC/NCGA Nor-Cal Players Championship (July 10-11) at Monterey’s Rancho Canada Golf Course.

Riley has one more JGANC tournament left this summer, which is scheduled for Aug. 24 at Haggin Oaks in Sacramento at the State Fair Junior Championships.

Manteca’s Ty Griggs, 11, also won the Turlock Junior for the boys 10-11 division. Griggs shot a 41 in the first round, followed by an even 37 in the second.

His total was a 4-over 78, which edged out a 79 by Ryan Meyer (Oakdale).

Meyer held a one shot lead after Monday, but on the first hole (No. 10) on Tuesday, Griggs erased the deficit. Griggs birdied the par-4, while Meyer bogeyed and put the Mantecan ahead.

Meyer also bogeyed No. 16, while Griggs pulled away with another birdie on No. 17.

Despite Griggs bogeying No. 15 and 18, which made his score an even 37 Tuesday, Meyer had seven pars to go with two +1s to put him at 2-over, handing Griggs his fifth first-place finish since June 26.

Griggs was co-champion of the Jimmy Olds Memorial in Antioch (June 26) and was first at the Oakdale Rotary Junior Classic (July 15).  He followed that victory with another first-place finish on July 16-17 at the George Maroney Junior at Modesto’s Creekside Golf Course.

Griggs also tied for first at the Sacramento City Junior Championship at Haggin Oaks (July 31-Aug. 1) and capped it by winning gold this week in Turlock.

To contact John-Joel Griffiths, e-mail jgriffiths@mantecabulletin.com.