National Signing Day: Darla May Dela Torre and Jaden Dumdumaya.

Wednesday, Nov. 8 was a big day for Darla May Dela Torre and Jaden Dumdumaya.

It was National Signing Day, for Darla May Dela Torre and Jaden Dumdumaya, two of the top junior golfers in Northern California who each have ties to the Morton Golf Foundation, made their college plans official.

Dela Torre, a senior at Rodriguez High School in Cordelia, signed a national letter-of-intent to attend Sacramento State and play on the women’s golf team. Dela Torre is a resident of Fairfield and led Rodriguez to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III title in October.

Dumdumaya, a senior at De La Salle High School in Concord, signed a national letter-of-intent to attend USC and play on the men’s golf team. Dumdumaya is a resident of Benicia and a two-time Junior Tour of Northern California Player of the Year. He has played on De La Salle teams that won CIF state championships in 2022 and 2023.

Dela Torre, who plays out of Paradise Valley Golf Course in Fairfield, signed her letter-of-intent at home with her family at her side. The Sacramento State program is led by David Sutherland, a former PGA Tour player, who was named as the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year for the fifth time during the 2022-23 season. He was also named as the Sacramento State Coach of the Year in June.

“I’m just really thankful and grateful that Coach David gave me the opportunity to be on his team,” said Dela Torre, 17. “I’m just really glad, especially because I’m so close to home. I still have all my connections close or nearby.

“I’m just very relieved that the recruiting process is over. I’ve been talking to Coach David for quite some time now. I feel like over the span of my recruiting process, I’ve just been able to build that connection.”

Putting Northern California Junior Golf On The Map

Dumdumaya, the 2022 Drive, Chip & Putt national champion at Augusta National Golf Club in the boys’ 14-15 age division, was joined by family, friends, students and staff when he signed in the De La Salle gymnasium.

“That day was definitely a memorable one,” said Dumdumaya, 17. “Lots of family there. All my friends. It was just good seeing everyone and to celebrate the moment. It was great to share the moment with not just my family and friends, but with others.”

Darla May Dela Torre and Jaden Dumdumaya are two very talented, experienced golfers, who not only play for their respective high school teams, but also in regional and national tournaments.

With Darla May Dela Torre and Jaden Dumdumaya signings, they have put Solano County and Northern California junior golf on the map.

“I would say that I’m really grateful that I was able to represent my city,” said Dela Torre.

Both Darla May Dela Torre and Jaden Dumdumaya. recipients of the Morton Golf Foundation Junior Golf Development Grant. According to the Morton Golf Foundation website, mortongolffoundation.org, the grant provides “financial support for families to help their children learn to compete, develop skills, enhance core values, and build lasting relationships through the game of golf.”

A closer look at the two junior players:

Darla May Dela Torre

Dela Torre has had an outstanding year in golf.

“I definitely would say that I worked the hardest this year during my summer,” she said. “I feel like this past season I played really good tournament golf. And so that’s kind of just reflecting on what I need to work on more and improve on. But I feel like during this winter season, I might focus more on building muscle and probably trying to gain some more distance before I go into college golf.

“I would definitely say like my practices were really well balanced. The majority of the time, I would try to practice with a purpose, especially because preparing for tournaments are usually the most important to me.”

Dela Torre and the Rodriguez team were dominating in both Monticello Empire League matches and tournaments this fall. She shot a 7-under-par 65 in the league’s first tournament, at Paradise Valley, and posted a 5-under 67 in the second tournament, at Rancho Solano Golf Course in Fairfield. She was the individual low medalist in each one.

Dela Torre won the individual title, shooting a sizzling 7-under 65, and Rodriguez captured the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship at Mather Golf Course.

Rodriguez did not advance to the CIF Northern California Championships after finishing fourth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament at The Reserve at Spanos Park. Dela Torre shot 73.
“When you see the results that you want, I feel like it’s just really rewarding, especially because you know that you have been working and dedicating your time to a game that takes a lot of consistency and practice. And so, it’s just really awesome to see the results in tournaments and in other places,” said Dela Torre.

Dela Torre plans to major in kinesiology at Sacramento State.

The Hornets finished seventh at the NCAA Pullman Regional last year.

“I’m really looking to improve my game with the team and with Coach David and the resources that they have at Sac State,” said Dela Torre.

She played in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship this past summer at the U.S. Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

She advanced from qualifying, tying for 41^st by shooting 74-76 – 150. She lost in the Round of 64.

Dela Torre has also had very good finishes in other tournaments this year, including:

• Alameda Commuters Women, Corica Park-South, first place.
• Sacramento Valley Women’s Amateur, Haggin Oaks-Mackenzie, tie for fourth.
• California Women’s Amateur Championships Junior, Quail Lodge Resort, second.
• Northern California Golf Association Junior Championship, The Club at Ruby Hill, tie for fourth.
• California State Fair Women’s, Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course, tie for sixth.
• Dela Torre played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, in 2021.

She has been a member of First Tee – Greater Sacramento.

Jaden Dumdumaya

Dumdumaya, whose nickname is “Lil’ Dragon,” said he is relieved to have committed and signed with USC, so now he can apply all of his focus on golf, practicing and playing. He played for the Philippines national team at this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

“I can just work on getting my game to the level that I need to be for college,” he said. “It was a fun experience going through the college process and kind of like seeing what I want to do with the future. Now that all of that is done, I can kind of focus on just getting through the senior year and playing some good golf.”

Dumdumaya is a major part of De La Salle golf.

This past year, he was the individual low medalist, shooting a 4-under-par 68, at the CIF/NCGA Regional Championship. De La Salle won the team title, and also won the state team championship.

He tied for second, shooting a 6-under 66, at the CIF/NCGA Regional Championship in 2022. De La Salle won the team title and also won the state team title.

In March, Dumdumaya was the individual low medalist, firing a 5-under-par 67 at the “Champ” High School Golf Classic on the North Course at Silverado Resort and Spa. He had an eagle and four birdies. Silverado, the Johnny Miller Champ Foundation, and Justin-Siena High School play host to this exciting event.

“Jaden is a highly accomplished player that plays an international schedule and has high aspirations for his golf career,” USC head coach Mark Hankins said, in announcing Dumdumaya’s signing, in a story on the University of Southern California Athletics website, usctrojans.com, on Nov. 9.

“He is fundamentally sound in his golf swing, short game and mental approach. We look forward to adding Jaden to our Class of 2024 as we continue to grow our team strength and depth here at USC.”

Dumdumaya has had an outstanding junior golf career.

He is a two-time Junior Tour of Northern California Boys’ Player of the Year. Winning the title in 2021 and 2023. Dumdumaya and Justin Suh, who plays on the PGA Tour, are the only players to twice capture JTNC Player of the Year titles.

Dumdumaya had five wins and five second-place finishes during the 2022-23 season.

He is the all-time JTNC wins leader with 15 victories in the boys division.

Dumdumaya almost had a perfect score, in winning the boys’ 14-15 age division at the 2022 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Georgia. He proudly received a trophy for scoring an impressive 29 out of a possible 30 points during the eighth annual Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals. This was a thrilling event that Golf Channel televised.

This year, he has had top-10 finishes in four American Junior Golf Association events:

• Tied for 10th at the Billy Horschel Junior Championship presented by Zurich.
• Seventh at the Natural Delights Junior Open hosted by Beau Hossler.
• Third at the Kevin Harvick Foundation Junior Championship.
• Tied for ninth at the C.T. Pan Foundation Championship.

At just 16 years old, he became the youngest winner in the long history of the California State Fair Amateur Championship. He won the title in 2022 at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex’s Alister MacKenzie Golf Course. It was the 98th year of the event. He shot 70-65-68 – 203 in the Sacramento Golf Council event.

Jaden Dumdumaya Signs with USC

At USC, Dumdumaya said is looking forward to doing all he can for the Trojans’ team. Including experiencing the team aspect of college golf. He plans to major in business.

“Getting this chance to play at USC is definitely a reflection of my hard work and dedication throughout the years,” he said. “Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of playing at the highest level and it felt like college golf is the next step for me. And so, choosing to play at USC was definitely a decision that I’ve been thinking about for a long time now. I’m extremely excited. I definitely can see how all this hard work is paying off.

“I’m looking forward to just helping to build a program to the top.”

Dumdumaya practices and plays at Diablo Country Club, the home course for De La Salle.

“I’m very grateful for all my achievements. I just want to keep on pushing myself. I’m working towards playing at the highest level, which is the PGA Tour. I’m very honored with all the achievements that I have right now. But I feel like in the end, my dream is going to be the PGA Tour,” he said.

Additional national letter-of-intent signings in area

Tavia Burgess, Garrett Harrison and Lauren Pierce, all seniors at Granite Bay High School, signed national letters of intent.

Athletic Media Relations made it official on November 8. Burgess’s has made a commitment to play for Morehead State University in Morehead, KY. Check out the report on msueagles.com for more details.

“Tavia Burgess is an impressive student-athlete with a well-rounded game,” Morehead State head coach Stephanie Barker said in the report. “Her ball-striking and proximity to the hole is at an elite level, she knows how to be creative around the green, and she is a true competitor. I believe Tavia has the opportunity to set records and help our program to even greater heights. Most impressively, Tavia is a tremendous person with the type of values we admire. I am honored to be Tavia’s college coach and thrilled she will be an integral part of our Eagle family.” 

Washington State officially announced Harrison’s signing on Nov. 10 through a report on wsucougars.com by Washington State Athletic Communications.

Pierce signed with University of Hawaii.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. Marty retired on June 4, 2019, after spending 40 year as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame welcomed Marty in 2016, honoring his induction.

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