2026 SCGA Women’s Player of the Year Maggie Ma delivered one of the most remarkable performances of the 12th Southern California Junior Amateur Golf Championship at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon (Legends), erasing a seven-shot deficit and setting a tournament course record with a stunning 9-under-par final round.
Battling strong winds over the opening two rounds, Ma never quite found the momentum she was looking for despite flashes of brilliance. Through 36 holes, the 14-year-old had carded six birdies and two eagles, but a handful of costly double bogeys left her at 2-over par and seven strokes off the lead entering the final round.
Determined to make a move, Ma wasted no time climbing the leaderboard. She opened her round with four consecutive birdies, immediately putting herself back into contention. After a lone par on No. 5, she caught fire again, adding three straight birdies on Nos. 6, 7 and 8. By the time she made the turn at 7-under (29) for the day, Ma had erased the entire deficit and pulled into a tie for the lead with 12-year-old Maya Young.
The deadlock didn't last long. A birdie on No. 10 gave Ma her first solo lead of the championship, and despite trading a birdie on No. 13 with a bogey on No. 14, she remained firmly in the hunt. Young responded with a birdie on No. 15 to draw even once again, setting up a dramatic finish. Undeterred, Ma answered immediately with a birdie on No. 16 to reclaim the outright lead. Both players closed with pars over the final two holes, allowing Ma to secure the championship at 7-under par (63) and cap off her incredible comeback with a record-breaking performance.
When asked whether winning the 2026 SCGA Women’s Player of the Year Award provided additional confidence heading into the championship, Ma said:
“That gave me more confidence because I knew I could do it. Now that I got Player of the Year, I was really excited coming into this tournament.”
That confidence was evident throughout the final round, as Ma turned a seven-shot deficit into victory with one of the most memorable rounds of the season.