The United States celebrated a double victory, while the South African Boys team shared fourth and the SA Girls team tied for seventh after a final push in the 2016 TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup, supported by JAL, in Toyota City, Aichi-Prefecture, Japan on Friday.
BOYS DIVISION
The United States posted a fourth consecutive sub-par round to sweep to an eighth victory in the Boys Competition of the prestigious international teams event at Chukyo Golf Club.
Norman Xiong (66), Will Thompson (70) and Austin Eckroat (70) combined for a final round seven-under-par 206 at the Ishino Course that helped the United States to a nine shot victory on 36 under 816 over second placed Germany.
Thailand took third place at 22 under, finishing two shots clear of South Africa and Korea.
Boland golfer Herman Loubser and Marco Steyn from Central Gauteng produced a pair of 68s and Central Gauteng’s Dylan Naidoo added a 73 for a final round 206. Ekurhuleni’s Dylan Mostert returned a non-counting 75.
‘I think that if you gave us fourth place at the start of the week, we would have taken our chances with playing for a better finish,’ said South African Golf Association Golf Integration Manager Eden Thompson. ‘As it worked out, it was not meant to be, but I’ll say this for the team: they gave it their all and knuckled down when times were tough. They gave it everything they had and a bit more. They may be disappointed, but they can leave Japan with their heads held high and proud.’
Naidoo came within striking distance of clinching South Africa’s second victory in the Boys Individual Competition. The Modderfontein player led through the second and third rounds, but was pipped for the Medallist Honours by Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, the runner-up in 2015.
The Chilean closed with a tournament record nine-under-par 62 to finish on 17 under, still a shot shy of the winning total posted by former top SA amateur Matthew Kent in 2004.
However, Naidoo’s runner-up finish is the second best achievement by a South African junior since Thriston Lawrence finished third in 2013. Other notable South African performances Charl Schwartzel, who took fourth in 2001 and Brandon Stone, who finished sixth in 2010.
Meanwhile Niemann’s 62 helped Chile to the low round of the day – a 12-under-par 201 – that vaulted the country past Sweden into sixth on 15 under.
The Swedes took seventh on 11 under, while defending champions Japan finished at four under in eighth place. New Zealand and Norway tied for ninth at one under, while Canada (+1), Mexico (+11), the Netherlands (+22), Zimbabwe (+23) and Brazil (+37) rounded out the boys’ field.
GIRLS DIVISION
Kirsten Gillman, Kaitlyn Papp and Alyaa Abdulghany made it two-for-two for the United States when they held off defending champions Japan for a five shot victory in the Girls Division.
Papp and Abdulghany combined for three under 139 to secure victory on 18-under-par 558.
Spain took third on four under, Korea finished a stroke back in fourth and Italy sealed fifth on two under. Mexico overhauled South Africa and Argentina on 11 over with a final round 142 to take sixth on four over, while Australia brought up the rear on 28 over par.
Ivanna Samu closed out her campaign with a 73 and fellow Gauteng golfer Kaleigh Telfer added a 74 for a final round 147, while Gauteng North’s Danielle du Toit carded a non-counting 83. Gillman won the Girls Division individual trophy with a wire-to-wire performance.
The American carded rounds of 66, 69, 71 and 72 for a four stroke victory over Japan’s Mone Inami on 10-under-par 278. Samu rounded out the individual top 10 at two over.
‘Ivanna had another consistent round with a couple of birdie opportunities from good iron play, but unfortunately the putts were not dropping,’ said Womens Golf South Africa national coach Val Holland. ‘She has been the most consistent player in the team and we congratulate her on her top-10 finish in the Individual Competition.
‘Kaleigh was three over early in the round, but fought back with successive birdies on the third and fourth holes. She was even-par though 14, but a wayward drive at 15 resulted in a double bogey. Our last member of the team, Danielle, had a struggling day and just could not find a momentum.
The girls have been impeccable ambassadors for South Africa this week and in addition to the exposure to top juniors from around the world, the experience they have gained is priceless.’
By Lali Stander
