Jennifer Seo wins Girls National High School Invitational; Brasen Briones takes 11th in the Boys Invitational
July 14, 2022 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365
Jennifer Seo (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)
Hamilton senior Jennifer Seo followed up her 2021 AIA Division I state championship by winning the national title at the High School Golf National Invitational held at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina held from June 27-29.
Former Liberty state champion Mattison Frick was one shot behind the leader after the first round with a 2-under-par 70 with Kiera Bartholomew of North Carolina recording a 69 and Seo was in 12th place with a 73. Frick shot a 73 in the second round and Bartholomew recorded a 74 which left the door open for the field.
(Mattie Frick/Andy Morales/AZPreps365)
Seo shot a 71 in the second round as did Jenna Kim of North Carolina and Victoria Patterson of Texas but Seo’s fortunes would change dramatically on the final day when she entered the tent with a 5-under 67 to claim the championship with a 3-under 211 and Frick took second place with a 1-under 213.
Frick beat Seo in a playoff to win the 2020 Division I state championship and both players were invited due to their championship history, with Liberty winning the DI team championship in 2021. Ironwood Ridge won the D-II team championship three years in a row and the Nighthawks were also invited as was former Salpointe standout Mackenzie McRee who captured the 2021 D-II state championship.
Liberty (Frick, Teaen Sweet, Annika Saida, Brooke McGlasson and Kaitlin Anderson) came in fourth place (930) with Georgia (880) winning it all. Ironwood Ridge (Raina Ports, Makenna Brown, Hannah Ports, Celia Schrecker and Charlotte Schrecker) tied for 8th (957).
McRee was the next highest finisher from Arizona and the Ohio University commit finished in 21st place.
Brasen Briones (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)
On the boy’s side, Ironwood Ridge standout Brasen Briones tied for 11th place in the event that took place this week. Briones shot an even 216 (74-71-71), 10 shots behind Jake Albert of Virginia. Briones won the 2021 AIA Division II state championship and he will be a junior this fall.
No teams from Arizona entered the boy’s event.
