PGA professional Bob Sparks speaks to the Torrington 13U All-Star team during Sunday’s regional tournament in Middlefield. (Photo courtesy PGA Junior League)
MIDDLEFIELD, Conn., Sept. 4, 2022 – The Torrington Country Club All-Stars, a group of youth golfers, earned their fourth straight trip to the PGA Junior League national championships with a decisive victory Sunday at the Region 1 championship meet at Lyman Orchards Golf Club.
The Torrington team, which consists of golfers ages 10-13, had an impressive score of 26-under-par in qualifying action on Saturday before winning a pair of match play decisions on Sunday to earn a trip to Arizona.
Torrington won the 13U tournament with an 8½ to 3½ win over TPC River Highland and a 9-3 win over Atkinson Country Club from New Hampshire in the championship match.
Playing out of the Torrington Country Club, the winning squad includes Berlin’s Brennan Meyers, Fairfield’s Luke Hoglund, Suffield’s Will Lord and Aarav Lavu, Colin McAskin, Ken Fernandez, Leo Graham and Rocco Capalbo. The team is coached by PGA professional Robert Sparks.
Torrington will be one of 12 teams at the national PGA Junior League championships in Scottsdale, Arizona on Oct. 6-9.
From the left, PGA coach Bob Sparks, golfers Rocco Capalbo, Brennan Meyers, Colin McCaskin, Leo Graham, Luke Hoglund, Arav Lavu, Ken Fernandes, Will Lord and assistant coach Jim Bunel. (Photo courtesy PGA Junior League)
In the 17 and under division, No. 4 Lyman Orchards defeated the top seed NPI All-Stars 5½-3½ in the semifinals on Sunday while the No. 3 Winchester 17U All-Stars bested the No. 2 Vermont All-Stars 6½-2½. In the afternoon, the Massachusetts team came out victorious over the host site’s 17U All-Stars, with a 6½-2½ victory to become region champions. There is no national event for the 17U teams.
Farmington’s John Lahtinen and Unionville’s Ryan Wang played on the 17U team from NPI All-Stars. Avon’s Brayden Grossman played for TPC River Highlands in the 13U tournament.
From left to right: PGA coach Bob Sparks, Rocco Capalbo, Brennan Meyers, Colin McCaskin, Leo Graham, Luke Hoglund, Arav Lavu, Ken Fernandes, Will Lord and assistant coach Jim Bunel
2022 PGA Junior Region 1 tournament
At Middlefield, Conn. (Lyman Orchards)
13U tournament
Qualifying (stroke play)
| Torrington | -26 |
| Atkinson CC (New Hampshire) | -3 |
| Norwood CC Select (Westwood, MA) | -4 |
| TPC River Highlands (Cromwell) | -3 |
| First Tee: Mosholo Bronx | -3 |
| Upstate 1 All-Star Team | -1 |
| Central Mass. | even |
| Lyman Orchards | +9 |
Semifinals (match play)
Torrington def. TPC River Highlands, 8½ to 3½
Atkinson (N.H.) CC def. Norwood CC Select, 8-4
Championship
Torrington def. Atkinson (N.H.) CC, 9-3
