Max Herendeen Wins Jr. PGA Championship
By: PGA of America
Newly crowned Junior PGA Champions, No. 6 ranked Kaitlyn Schroeder and University of Illinois Commit Max Herendeen, found commonality on their way to winning at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club on Friday – a pair of college coaches instrumental to their games and the execution of their game plans. Herendeen, of Bellevue, Washington, cruised to a 5-shot win while Schroeder, of Jacksonville, Florida, saved her best for last with a 6-under 66 to win by two strokes at the 46th Junior PGA Championships.
Herendeen finished 16-under 272 after shooting 4-under 68 in the final round. Schroeder overcame a two-shot deficit to win the Patty Berg Trophy at 14-under 274. “It was definitely a ball-striking week,” Herendeen said. “I didn’t putt as well as I probably could have. I struck the ball well. I left a lot of shots out there with the putter. I just knew if I kept giving myself opportunities, I’d have good chances. Mentally I got myself around the course really well, played to the smart side of the holes, really eliminated the big numbers. That was my goal for the week, no doubles and we got through the week with no doubles.”
Both Schroeder and Herendeen credit two college coaches for the success in their golf games that led to wins at Cog Hill.
Playing 130 miles from his future campus in Champaign-Urbana, Herendeen won the Jack Nicklaus Trophy with his future coach in attendance – Illinois head men’s golf coach Mike Small. “More than anything, since I committed, he’s been a huge mentor to me,” said Herendeen about Small. “We talk regularly, just about what I need to improve on, what I need to get better at, the mental side of the game. He’s been a huge part of my entire golf game. I wouldn’t be here without him.”