McClure Cup: Jaden Dumdumaya overcomes five-shot deficit

Jaden Dumdumaya, a USC signee, shot 5-under 211 with his rounds of 72-71-68 to win the McClure Cup with a one-shot margin at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside, Calif.

Mitchell Hoey of St. Mary’s College secured the runner-up position at 4-under 212, with rounds of 71-67-74. Dumdumaya, who entered the final round trailing the 36-hole leader Hoey by five strokes, closed the gap with a final round of 68. This performance enabled Dumdumaya to lift the trophy, while Hoey finished just one shot behind with a final round 74 in the tournament.

Adithya Venkatraghavan from Saratoga, Calif., carded rounds of 74-71-71, securing a joint-third position alongside Wilhelm Berg Von Linde of Cal State Monterey Bay. The latter held the opening round lead and carded 70-75-71 to finish at even-par 216.

Dumdumaya, previously ranked in the top one percent of the Junior Golf Scoreboard Global ranking and the top 5% of the AJGA Junior Rolex ranking, has established himself as a prominent figure in junior golf. As the 2023 Philippine National Men's Golf Player, he represented the country at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, standing out as the sole junior player on the team. Notably, Dumdamaya was the youngest player in 98 years to win the 2022 California State Fair Tournament.

Dumdumaya's accomplishments extend to the record books, as he holds the title for the most wins on the Junior Tour of California, surpassing 2020 U.S. Open winner and LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau and former USC Trojan Justin Suh.

In 2022, this honor-roll student showcased his golf prowess by securing a solo fifth-place finish in the local qualifier for the US Open. Closing out his 2023 season with a flourish, Dumdumaya claimed victory individually at the 2023 NorCal Section Championship. His remarkable journey in the world of golf continues to unfold, marked by a series of outstanding achievements and milestones.