Jaden Soong, a rising junior in high school, just dominated at PGA Frisco.
There's a new teenage star emerging in the world of golf.
Jaden Soong, a 16-year-old phenom out of St. Francis High School (CA), just won the Junior PGA Championship at the Tour's newest course, PGA Frisco.
The 50th edition of the event saw Soong shoot opening rounds of 72 and 67 to capture the lead. He followed that up with a 69 in the third round before pulling off a miraculous comeback on the back nine in his final round.
Soong began Friday with a two-stroke lead. Then trailing by four at the turn, Soong clawed his way back against Aadi Parmar and Chase Hughes, who were in the clubhouse at 6-under down the stretch.
"I think the front nine, I just didn't really commit to my shots and I was trying to be too perfect with everything," Soong told Golfweek.
"I think on the back nine, I just kind of freed it up and said, ‘Hey, I have nothing to lose now.’ I checked the leaderboard, and I was like, I'm nowhere near it, so I might as well just go to the back and see what I can do and make up a few shots."
Kailer Stone, who led at one point during the final round, bogeyed the final three holes. Both Stone and Ainslie Stanford landed in the bunker off the par-3 17th tee box. Soong found the green, setting him up for a decisive birdie putt. At 7-under, Soong parred the 18th hole to clinch the victory with a final-round 73.
"I checked the leaderboard on the 17th tee, and knew exactly where I was at," Soong said. "Aadi and Chase didn't finish 18 until I think after 17 when I made that birdie. Seeing my playing partners dump it in the bunker and have it plugged in there, I didn't really know what to expect.
"To be able to make my birdie putt was a lot of momentum going into 18 for me and I'm just thankful to walk away with it."
The teenage sensation, who is ranked No. 6 in the AJGA rankings, now earns an exemption into the 2027 Tulum Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour.
