Four Las Vegas Golfers Win Championships at State Junior

A contingent of top junior Nevada golfers took aim at individual titles in the 2018 Nevada State Junior Amateur. In the end, Las Vegas residents Cameron Gambini and Riana Mission put on clinics in winning the boys and girls 15-18 division crowns. Vincent Kyle Forbes (boys) and Joanne Lee (girls), also both from Vegas, won the 12-14 age division titles. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.

The tournament, featuring junior golfers representing the North and the South, was held June 26-27, 2018, at Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas.

BOYS

15-18

Cameron Gambini, a graduate of Arbor View High School and a freshman-to-be at New Mexico State, followed up a high school state title (also at Reflection Bay) with rounds of 72-67 to post a 7-shot victory.

“On the front nine I was putting really well and made some birdies and a lot of par saves,” he said. “On the back, I was missing some greens and chipped it close. My short game definitely helped a lot.”

He said the state championship definitely has left him in a good frame of mind.

“I’ve been playing well for about the last six months,” he said. “Winning the state title here back in May had me feeling real comfortable coming back to this course.”

He added he’s anticipating the transition to college golf. “For me, I’ll just keep working on my short game,” he said. “You can never get your short game too good. Even as well as I played, I left a few strokes out there.”

His top college goal? “I’m really hoping to play every tournament this year and I want to win the conference tournament,” he said. “It’s going to be at TPC Summerlin and I’ve been out there a lot. That would be pretty cool.”

Boys 15-18

Cameron Gambini, 72-67—139

Jared Smith, 73-73—146

Brett Sawaia, 73-74—147

Rashon Williams, 77-75—152

BOYS

12-14

Vincent Kyle Forbes carded rounds of 78-77—155 to breeze to a 7-shot victory.

Forbes took control of the two-day event with a two-under-par 34 in his first nine of the tournament. He continued his solid play on the front nine during the tournament’s second day, adding an even-par 36 as he put nine straight pars on the scorecard.

Emmanuel Dela Cruz had rounds of 81-81—162 to finish second.

Boys 12-14

Vincent Kyle Forbes, 78-77—155

Emmanuel Dela Cruz, 81-81—162

Troy Mason, 85-79—164

Skylor Tayloer, 86-81—167

GIRLS

15-18

Riana Mission carded nine birdies over the two days and posted a pair of under-par rounds, 70-71—141, en route to a 6-stroke victory in the Girls 15-18 division.

The 14-year-old Mission is a native Las Vegan who entered the upper division of the event. Mission, who beat Gabby Denunzio for the crown, has her sights set on playing college golf at a Division 1 school in California.

Mission had five birdies on the opening day and came back with four birdies the second day and wound up with a three-under-par, two-day total.

She said she fought through erratic ball-striking to win. “I was struggling with my swing a little but my putting was really good,” she said.

She added she’s overcome two factors in seeing her game rounding back into form. “My mom thinks I grew a little and changed my swing some,” she said. “Once I get my swing back in control and with me putting pretty well, I should be OK.”

The other factor is her eyes. “At the beginning of the year I went to contacts and I didn’t realize they were the wrong contacts with me having astigmatism,” she said. “They really hurt my depth perception. Now that they have been adjusted, I should be back to where I should be.”

Girls 15-18

Riana Mission, 70-71—141

Gabby Denunzio, 73-74—147

Victoria Estrada, 73-74—147

Hailey Stevenson, 75-77—152

GIRLS

12-14

Joanne Lee sizzled to victory with a 1-under-par 71 in the second round to rally for victory in the Girls 12-14 event.

Lee opened with a 3-over-par 75 and bogeyed her first hole in the second round. She then closed the front nine with birdies on the 7th and 9th holes to get to one-under for the day. She strung together nine straight pars on the back nine to post a two-stroke victory over Samantha Phelan.

Girls 12-14

Joanne Lee, 75-71—146

Samantha Phelan, 74-74—148

Kirstin Angosta, 79-74—153

Lilly Denunzio, 80-78—158