Team California, Team Georgia reach PGA Junior League championship

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- For the fifth consecutive year, teams that have qualified from the states of California and Georgia will compete for the PGA Junior League Golf Championship title, at Disney's Palm Course in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Both teams feature a 2015 Drive, Chip & Putt Champion in Jake Peacock of Team Georgia; and Jay Leng Jr., of Team California. Peacock is from Alpharetta, Georgia, and Leng Jr. resides in Rancho Santa Fe, California. In addition, Team California's Shane Ffrench (also of Rancho Santa Fe) placed third in his age division at the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship earlier this year at Augusta National Golf Club.

Team California (San Diego) finished with a perfect 3-0 record, amassing 22.5 points in the West Division. They defeated Team Oklahoma (Tulsa) in the morning session 9-3. 

"This team has really stepped it up and risen to the challenge, while smiling and having fun at the same time," said PGA Professional John Mason, Captain of Team California. "The kids have really gelled as a team and became close friends through this experience."

In the East Division, Team Georgia (Alpharetta) also secured a perfect 3-0 record with 24 points, defeating both Team South Carolina (Columbia) 6.5-5.5 in today's morning session and Team New Jersey (Hillsborough) 8-4 in the afternoon session.

"The team fought hard to get here," said PGA Professional Tom Joyce Jr., Captain of Team Georgia. "We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, and the kids have had a great time both on and off the course."

Teams representating the state of Georgia have won the PGA Junior League Golf Championship in 2011 and 2013, and teams from California have captured the title in 2012 and 2014. 

Team Ohio and Team New Jersey will compete for third and fourth place; Team Illinois and Team South Carolina will compete for fifth and sixth place; and Team Connecticut and Team Oklahoma will compete for seventh and eighth place. The matches begin Sunday at 8 a.m. Following the competition, Golf Channel's Charlie Rymer will host the awards ceremony.

The PGA Junior League Golf Championship features nine-hole matches played in a popular two-person scramble format, with points awarded based on number of holes won. Final scoring is based on the record of matches won, tied and lost. Each team played three matches between Friday and Saturday to determine a winner in the East and West Division, who compete for the Championship title.

Team Georgia (Alpharetta):
Team Captain: PGA Professional Tom Joyce Jr.
Assistant Coach: Terry Peacock
Jake Peacock
Peyton Balent
Bruce Murphy
Deven Patel
Will Morlan
Michael Dotson
Owen Doherty
Will Stakel
Blake Parkman
Myles Jones
Alternates: McCord Grice, Joe Carter

Team California (San Diego):
Team Captain: PGA Professional John Mason
Assistant Coach: Jackie DeWald-Mason
Nicholas Chang
Shane Ffrench
Jay Leng Jr.
Jackson Moss
Krando Nishiba
Dylan Oyama
Ryan Smith
Jared Tran
Jaycie Stewart
Daina Tsuru
Alternate: Ryan Mellick

East Division - Saturday Record:

Georgia (Alpharetta): 3-0, 24 points
New Jersey (Hillsborough): 1-2, 17.5 points
South Carolina (Columbia): 1-2, 16.5 points
Connecticut (Hartford): 1-2, 14 points

West Division - Saturday Record:

California (San Diego): 3-0, 22.5 points
Ohio (Cleveland): 2-1, 20 points
Illinois (Chicago): 1-2, 17 points
Oklahoma (Tulsa): 0-3, 12.5 points