3 South Bay Peninsula Junior Golfers Receive SoCal PGA Performance Awards

Three young golfers from the South Bay Peninsula who participate in the Southern California PGA Junior Tour have received awards for their achievements during the previous golf season.

They were recognized on April 11 during the SCPGA Junior Tour Virtual Banquet of Champions, which celebrates the past season's accomplishments while recognizing players who have excelled on the course as well as people and organizations that have supported junior golf.

The local champions from the 2025 season are:

Clairey Lin of Palos Verdes Estates, who was named Curtis Cup Player of the Year, the award that represents the pinnacle of Southern California junior golf. The honor is awarded to the athlete who demonstrated unparalleled excellence and superior performance throughout the 2025 season.

Lin was also selected to the All-Southern California Girls Team. Selectees are chosen by vote, out of the pool of junior golfers who have attained success not only on the local level, but also at the state and national levels.

Rina Kawasaki of Palos Verdes Estates received the Howard Smith Award, which is presented to the boy and girl Junior Golfers who retain the lowest scoring average within the TTC series with a minimum of four events played.

The award is named in honor of five-time SCPGA Section President and four-time Golf Professional of the Year, Howard Smith.

She also received the Ralph Miller Award, which is given to the boy and girl members of the SCPGA Junior Tour who earned the most points in nationally recognized events.

It takes into consideration their finish in the following organizations and events: Junior PGA, USGA Championships, SCGA Championships, Junior World, CIF, AJGA, Toyota Tour Cup, Wyndham Cup, Jr. Solheim Cup, Jr. Ryder Cup, Jr. President's Cup, and Boys and Girls America's Cup.

Also, Zude Xu of Rancho Palos Verdes received Toyota Tour Cup Third Place Points. He was the winner of the Toyota Tour Cup River Ridge; had nine rounds of par or better; had five rounds in the 60’s (low round of 64); and a scoring average of 70.93.