Bridges Rises Above, Harrison Bridges Wins Georgia PGA Boys Junior Championship
Harrison Bridges claimed victory in commanding fashion to become the 60th Georgia PGA Boys Junior Championship winner presented by Edible Arrangements and United Bankshares at Jennings Mill Country Club on Thursday, becoming the only player in the field to finish under par.
Bridges, a senior golfer at Brookstone School in Columbus, Georgia, entered the final round at 3-under-par and held the tournament lead throughout Thursday’s final round. He closed with an even-par 72 to finish at 3-under-par overall, five strokes clear of the field after rounds of 71-70-72.
Harrison relied on consistency throughout the final round, carding 14 pars and avoiding costly mistakes through the narrow holes of Jennings Mill.
“I focused on eliminating the left side of the golf course, kept the ball moving from left to right, and hit a lot of fairways, which is key out here,” he said.
Despite carrying a sizable lead into the final round, Bridges felt the pressure playing alongside 2024 champion Mackinnley Yarbrough in the leading group. Harrison described how there was an added level of competition with Yarbrough entering the final round in second place.
“Oh, there definitely was,” Bridges said. “I know Mackinnley is a great player, and he started making some birdies and getting close on my tail.”
While his solo lead brought nerves early on, Bridges settled into his round and maintained control of the championship.
“It was a little bit of pressure. I was a little shaky at first, but once I got settled in, I started hitting the ball where I wanted to and making lots of pars,” he said.
Bridges’ victory earns him a spot in the 2026 Junior PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, Texas on July 28-31. He also qualifies for the North American Championship at Streamsong Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida, as part of the NXXT Faldo Junior Tour this December.
The race for the second exemption into the Junior PGA Championship came down to a playoff on the 18th hole, where defending champion Mackinnley Yarbrough defeated Austin Blackburn. Yarbrough secured runner-up honors at 2-over-par and joins Bridges in securing his place in Texas.
With the championship title, Bridges also qualifies into the 2026 Golf Pro Payments Georgia Open at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, GA on August 6-9.
For complete results and more information about the Georgia PGA Junior Tour, visit www.georgiapga.com.
ABOUT EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS
Founded in 1999, Edible Arrangements has revolutionized the gifting industry, uniquely leveraging the synergistic power of an innovative e-commerce hub and locally owned brick-and-mortar locations across the globe. Edible’s platform seamlessly blends the convenience of online shopping with a vast retail footprint that services over 70% of U.S. households within an hour. Expanding beyond its iconic fruit arrangements, Edible has a range of offerings, including delectable dessert boards, cookies, brownies, cakes, farm-fresh flowers and more – perfect for every celebratory occasion and any treat-yourself moment. For more information, visit edible.com.
ABOUT UNITED BANKSHARES
United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI) is a leading regional financial services company headquartered in Washington, D.C., and Charleston, West Virginia. With over $29 billion in assets and more than 200 full-service locations across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S., United provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, and trust services. Committed to strong community engagement and sound financial performance, United has a long-standing history of stability and growth since its founding in 1839. Visit them online at https://www.ubsi-inc.com/.
ABOUT PGA REACH GEORGIA
PGA REACH Georgia is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Georgia PGA Section. Through youth initiatives, military programs, and inclusion efforts, PGA REACH Georgia uses the game of golf to positively impact lives and strengthen communities across Georgia.