Coming into the final round, it seemed as if the Hollywood writers just 60 miles down U.S. Route 101 had overnighted a readymade script to The Saticoy Club. The final group on the final day consisted of Greyson Leach, the defending SCGA Amateur champion, Torrey Edwards, the reigning SCGA Mid-Amateur champion, and Soong, the SoCal Junior Amateur champion. 

Apparently Soong read the screenplay as an action plot and not a drama. His second birdie on the front nine, which came at no. 6, gave him the outright lead over Leach and he would never look back from there. 

The seventh hole proved to be the explosion scene of the movie. Leach, who entered the final round tied with Soong at -4, detonated his chances with a wayward drive and an approach shot that flew the green. It took two below average chips to finally get on the dance floor, where Leach would three-putt for a triple-bogey seven.

Meanwhile, Soong made his second of back-to-back birdies—his third of the front nine—and the four-shot swing would cripple Leach’s chances before even making the turn. The brown bear cub that ran across the fairway on Wednesday was now, somehow, the second-most memorable event that occurred at no. 7 this week. 

After nine holes, Soong had a five-shot lead thanks to going out in 33. Edwards shot a 37 and Leach carded a 39. 

Sticking to the film motif, the back nine was a sequel of the front. Soong again shot 33, with three more birdies, no bogies and no stress.  

A testament to Soong’s poise and talent is that you can easily forget you’re watching a 5’ 2”, recently graduated middle schooler who is only 14-years-old. Today he showed up to play in a star-studded, pedigreed group and tore the course apart right in front of them to win a major amateur championship. What 14-year-old kid does that? 

Jaden Soong. That’s who. 

Jaden Soong interview with the Southern California Golf Association