JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL INTERNATIONAL
GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
2009 RESULTS
France's Romain Wattel & USA's Alexis Thompson
2009 Junior Orange Bowl Champions.
2009 Champions
Alexis Thompson (USA) &
Romain Wattel (France)
Coral Gables, Florida - Wattel defeated Argentina's Emilano Grillo in a three-hole playoff, after finishing tied after 72 holes on 7-under pat 273. Both scored 67s in the final round.
Third round leader, Italy's Matteo Manassero, the British Amateur Champion, finished ine stroke behind on 274 after posting 71.
The girls final was a nail biting affair. After eight holes favorite Thompson had made up the two stroke overnight deficit but was stretched all the way on the back nine and admitted she was not sure that she could win until the last putt dropped.
I caught up, then dropped back, played very solid golf on the back nine to get ahead, then Cindy birdied 15th and 17th, so the pendulum could have swung in any direction at the final hole, where I've had problems all week.
Thompson, Feng and Jutanugarn all missed the green at the 18th but only Thompson saved par, walking off as much relieved as elated. It is great to win this one, I've really wanted it for a number of years. When I can relax I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it.
Naturally it is a little disappointing, Manassero said later, and I did not play badly, but these guys played really great today, particularly on the back nine. I struggled a little with my game all week but full credit has to go to Emilano and Romain.
Wattel and Grillo both parred the 18th hole twice before the Frenchman clinched victory with a 16 foot birdie putt although for most of the closing holes it seemed Manassero would triumph. After regaining the lead through 14 holes, the Italian's 100yd approach to the par-five 15th stopped inches from the hole: but both opponents also got up-and-down from around the green to match his birdie..
Manassero made just one mistake but it was enough. From the right hand rough his approach to the 16th flew long, the outcome a bogey while Grillo birdied, a two-shot swing. When Wattel birdied the 17th suddenly the one-time leader was a stroke adrift.
Leading Girls:
270- Alexis Thompson, USA; 272 Cincy Feng, USA, 273 - Arija Jutanugarn, Thailand; 276 Victoria Tanco, Argentina; 278 Daisy Nielsen, Denmark; 290 - Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand
Leading Boys:
273 Romain Wattel, France, Emiliano Grillo, Argentina: Wattel winner in 3-hole playoff: 274 - Matteo Manassaro, Italy; 282 - Andrea Bolognesi, Italy; Tom Lovelady USA; 283 Justin Thomas, USA
December 27 - 30, 2010
The Biltmore Golf Course
1210 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Chairperson: Bonita Whytehead
Tournament Director: J.R. Steinbauer, Jr.
For Tournament Information
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