Social Recap presented by True Temper: June 22, 2022

AJGA alumnus Matt Fitzpatrick notched his first PGA TOUR win at the U.S. Open at The Country Club on June 19. He is the second Englishman to win the U.S. Open in 50 years and the second man to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course, joining Jack Nicklaus.

The Northwestern alum performed consistently at The Country Club. His first two rounds of 2-under-par 68 and even-par 70 kept him in contention, but it was his 2-under-par 68 on moving day that gave him a share of the lead with Will Zalatoris entering the final round.

A three-way battle took place in the final round between Fitzpatrick, Zalatoris and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Fitzpatrick, with remarkable endurance, took the solo lead after his birdie on the par-4 No. 15. From there, he made all pars to finish his round at 2-under-par 68. His victory was secured when Scheffler and Zalatoris both missed their birdie putts on No. 18.

Fitzpatrick finished T43 at the only AJGA tournament he played, the 2011 Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf.

AJGA alumnus Norman Xiong earned a Korn Ferry Tour membership with his victory at the Wichita Open Benefitting KU Wichita Pediatrics on June 19.

Xiong Monday qualified into the tournament and seized his opportunity on the Korn Ferry Tour. He posted 4-under-par 66 and 9-under-par 61 in the first two rounds with an eagle and 16 birdies to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend. His second round of 9-under-par 61 marked his new career-low record.

With a flawless front nine on moving day, Xiong maintained his lead with a round of 6-under-par 64. He started his final round with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch from Nos. 2-4. Xiong posted a final round of 7-under-par 63 for a total of 26-under-par 254 to secure a five-shot victory despite a double bogey on No. 18.

Xiong had a remarkable junior golf run between 2011-2016. The 2016 First Team Rolex Junior All-American won five AJGA tournaments in addition to the 2016 Junior PGA Championship.

AJGA alumna Jennifer Kupcho won a three-way playoff at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give to earn her second title of the season.

Kupcho carded a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 in the first round to mark her career-best record, and kept her lead with a second round of 5-under-par 67 into the weekend. After carding a third round of 3-under-par 69, Kupcho was one shot behind fellow AJGA alumna Nelly Korda.

Kupcho went through ups and downs during her final round, with a double bogey on No. 3 and a bogey on No. 6, but she bounced back with an eagle-birdie run on Nos. 8 and 9. She finished at 1-under-par 71 to tie Korda and Leona Maguire and force a three-way playoff. Kupcho won the title on the second playoff hole as Korda three putted on the first and Maguire missed her putt on the second.

The 25-year-old Wake Forest alum tied for third at the only AJGA tournament she played, the 2015 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior presented by MusclePharm.

AJGA alumna Kiira Riihijarvi claimed her first career victory at the inaugural Ann Arbor’s Road to the LPGA Powered by the A2 Sports Commission.

Riihijarvi, the 25-year-old from Finland, didn't take the lead after the first two rounds but remained steady with rounds of 4-under-par 68 and 3-under-par 69. She carded a bogey and four birdies in the final round to sign for a 3-under-par 69, defeating the first- and second-round leader Pavarisa Yoktuan by two shots.

The Finn finished 12th at the 2016 Rome Junior Classic presented by State Mutual Insurance Company during her junior career.