Incoming Simon Fraser University freshman Kevin Vigna missed his chance to become just the third player to ever win back-to-back Pacific Northwest junior boys' amateur golf titles.
The St. Thomas More Collegiate grad and defending PNGA junior champion lost the title to Washington State AAA high school champion Frank Garber on the final hole of the 36-hole match play at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria on Aug. 16.
Vigna, who less than a week earlier led Team B.C. to its first Pacific Northwest Hogan Cup title since 2009, defeated Logan Yanick of Courtenay by two strokes with one hole to play in the semifinal.
Garber was not really challenged in his earlier matches but had his hands full with the consistent-swinging Vigna.
"It was such a good match with Kevin.
Back and forth the whole day. A lot of fun," said Garber in a PNGA press release. "We've been friends for a couple of years, and we had a good time out there. He was the best opponent to have because his game is so solid."
Last year, Vigna defeated friend and schoolmate Lucas Gatto in the championship's final match.
At the Hogan Cup, Vigna shot a sixunder-par 67 on the Riverside Golf and Country Club course in Portland to help the four-player B.C. team post a winning three-over-par 435 total at the 45th Hogan Cup on Aug. 11.
