Final Four Set at 105th W.Y. Dear Junior Championship
BEDMINSTER, N.J. – Michael Asselta of Ramsey Golf & Country Club, Daniel Kim of The Ridgewood Country Club, Rayhao Feng of Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club and Eric Kim of NJ Golf E-Club have all advanced to the semifinals of the 105th W.Y. Dear Junior Championship on the River Course at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club following two rounds of match play on Wednesday.
In his Round of 16 match, Asselta won the last two holes for a 2-up victory over Tyler Whitney, advancing to the quarterfinals. There, he faced Rohnik Shah in the quarterfinals, who had set Fiddler’s Elbow’s competitive course record with a 9-under 63 the day prior during stroke play. Asselta, the 2024 W.Y. Dear Junior champion, displayed his championship pedigree early and often during the matchup against Shah.
“I wasn’t happy with how I hit the ball this morning and figured that out before I went out for the afternoon,” said Asselta. “I had a lot of momentum after the first three holes [of the quarterfinal] and kept that going.”
Asselta, 18, made an adjustment with his driver before the quarterfinal match and his success off the tee generated numerous birdie chances. The Ramsey Golf & Country Club representative made do on those chances, birdieing five of the first seven holes en route to a 5-under front nine and a 7-and-6 victory.
Daniel Kim, 17, advanced to the quarterfinals against CJ Antifonario after a 2-and-1 victory in the Round of 16. Antifonario survived four playoff holes in the Round of 16, but his run came to an end as Kim powered to a 6-up lead through nine holes. Kim trailed Antifonario by one after two holes but rattled off seven straight winning holes to close out the front nine strong.
Antifonario spurted a mild comeback to close the gap to 4 up after 12 holes, but Kim settled back in, taking holes 13 and 14 with back-to-back birdies for a 6-and-4 win.
Feng, 16, fired a 2-under-par front nine as part of his 4-and-2 Round of 16 win. A two-time W.Y. Dear Boys champion, Feng showed comfort on his home course.
“I definitely think my chipping saved me today,” said Feng. “I remember, in the Round of 16 on hole five, I holed out from the bunker and I had practiced that shot many times before.”
After being tied with Vertti Hamalainen following a back-and-forth front nine, Feng jumped to a 2-up lead after 11 holes before winning holes 15 and 16 to complete a 4-and-2 victory.
Kim, 17, took a decisive 5-and-4 victory in his Round of 16 match and battled against Neil Parikh, 15, who won the W.Y. Dear Boys championship on Tuesday. Neither Kim nor Parikh held a lead of more than one through their 18-hole bout, with Parikh leading by one going into hole 17. Kim parred the 144-yard, par-three 17th to square the match before delivering a clutch, match-clinching birdie on the 502-yard, par-five 18th to capture a 1-up win.
Quarterfinal Results
Michael Asselta def. Rohnik Shah, 7 and 6
Rayhao Feng def. Vertti Hamalainen, 4 and 2
Daniel Kim def. CJ Antifonario, 6 and 4
Eric Kim def. Neil Parikh, 1 up
Round of 16 Results
Ronik Shah def. Jack Stamberger, 3 and 1
Michael Asselta def. Tyler Whitney, 2 up
CJ Antifonario def. Grady Gore, 22 holes
Daniel Kim def. Sohane Madane, 2 and 1
Eric Kim def. Benjamin Oh, 5 and 4
Neil Parikh def. Andrew Ma, 3 and 1
Rayhao Feng def. Enzo Allain, 4 and 2
Vertti Hamalainen def. Tyler Sugarman, 6 and 4
The first semifinal match between Asselta and Daniel Kim will tee off at 7:30 a.m. and Feng and Eric Kim will follow at 7:45 a.m.
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