Lestini wins golf championship
Luke Lestini of South Fayette won the 2018 Tri-State Section Boys Junior PGA Championship held June 20 at Fox Run Golf Course in Beaver Falls. He shot a 68-70-138 and edged out Palmer Jackson for the championship.
Lestini is a rising junior at South Fayette High School, where he is a member of the golf team. Last fall, as a sophomore, he finished fifth at the sectional and missed the cut for the WPIAL individual championships by one stroke, firing a 77.
With his recent triumph, Lestini now has the opportunity to join 144 of the nation’s top male junior golfers in the PGA of America’s premium junior event, the 43rd Boys Junior PGA Championship. Hosted at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, the tournament runs from July 31-Aug. 3.
Valhalla Golf Club played host to the 1996, 2000 and 2014 PGA Championships, as well as the 2008 Ryder Cup. The 106th PGA Championship will also be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in 2024.
Each of the 41 PGA of America Sections can send two players to Kentucky. Therefore Lestini and Jackson will also be competing at Valhalla Golf Club. Jackson earned his spot through finishing as the runner up.
The Boys Junior PGA Championship is where some of the best in the world get their start. Many of today’s PGA Tour professionals made their debut at the Championship. Notable past participants included: Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Stewart Cink and Phil Mickelson.
The PGA of America represents the very best in golf.
For more information about the PGA of America, visit www.PGA.org, follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook. Visit www.juniorpgachampionship.com for more details about the Junior PGA Championship.