-Dutch players take two of four divisional titles; Canadian Captures Bantam Girls-
Championship Flight Final Results / Consolation Final Results
Palm Harbor, FL (December 30, 2015) – With a third straight day of perfect weather conditions, over 80 junior players from around the world took to the Copperhead Course in the championship flight, at Innisbrook Golf & Resort for the final round of the CJGA World Junior Challenge. The two bantam winners went wire-to-wire to capture their crowns while the junior champions battled their way to the top of the leader board for the win.
Junior Boys (15-19)
Vince van Veen of the Netherlands entered the final round in a three-way tie for the lead and put together a solid round of even par (71) to capture the title by two strokes. After birdies on holes 12 and 14, van Veen gave a stroke back on hole 16 before making two pars to close out his round. He finished the tournament with a 217 (+3) three day total. Naples FL native Kaleb Johnson, who lead after round one and shared the 36-hole lead was not able to make up enough strokes playing even par on the back nine to finish in a tie for second. Malaysia’s Bryan Teoh Wiyang also finished alongside Johnson as runner-up after shooting a final round 72 (E) round and a 219 (+5) total.
Junior Girls (15-19)
Zhen Bontan of the Netherlands moved her way up the leader board during the final round to capture the junior girls title. Entering the final round in third place, Bontan put together a strong round of 75 (+4) on the challenging Copperhead Course. Finishing the tournament with a 231 (+17) total, Botan made her two stroke victory a little closer than she would have liked after making double bogey and bogey on holes 16 and 17 respectfully. Malaysia’s Natahsa Oon entered the final round with the lead, but was not able to close it out after shooting a final round 79 (+8) to finish runner-up with a 233 (+19) tournament total. Two-time defending champion, Selena Costabile of Thornhill Ontario fell short in her bid to make it three in a row, but still had a great tournament finishing third with a 235 (+21) three day total.
Bantam Boys (14 & Under)
Wellesley MA native Michael Thorbjornsen, went wire-to-wire to capture the bantam boy’s title by a single stroke and a final round 74 (+3). Playing steady golf on the back nine with eight consecutive pars to close his round, Thorbjornsen captured the title after his fellow competitor Nathan Han made bogey on the 18th hole. Thorbjornsen finished the tournament at 1-over par (215). Mississauga Ontario’s Robbie Latter put together the best final round shooting a 1-under par (70) to move up the leader board and a fourth place finish.
Michael Thorbjornsen Interview
Bantam Girls (14 & Under)
Canadian Mathilde Denicourt went wire-to-wire to capture the bantam girls division. Entering the final round with a share of the lead, the St-Cesaire QC native shot a final round 83 (+12) to win the division by four strokes. She finished the tournament with a 250 (+32) tournament total. Second round co-leader Emily Zhu from Richmond Hill Ontario finished runner-up after her final round 87 (+16) and 250 (+36) tournament total. Brampton Ontario Vaijayanti Bharkhada, held on to her third place finished after her final round 85 (+14), 254 (+40) tournament total.
In the Consolation Round played on the Island Course, division winner were:
Jimin Jung, Briarcliff Manor, NY – 75 (Boys 14 & Under)
Yoko Tai, Singapore – 87 (Girls 14 & Under)
Marco Trstenjak, Wnnipeg, MB – 75 (Boys 15-19)
Marilou Bernier, Vaudreuil, QC – 84 (Girls 15-19)
Tournament Information – CJGA World Junior Challenge (Junior Tour)
About Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
Operated by Salamander Hotels & Resorts and owned by Sheila C. Johnson, Innisbrook is situated on 900 wooded acres of rolling hills in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and is located just 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport. The resort features 72 holes of championship golf, 550 spacious guest suites and rooms, four restaurants and three bars, the Innisbrook Golf Academy, 11 tennis courts, the luxury Indaba Spa with 12 treatment rooms and state-of-the-art Fitness Center, six heated swimming pool complexes, a nature preserve, and three conference halls with 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Part of Salamander’s Golf Collection, Innisbrook hosts the annual Valspar Championship presented by BB&T at its famed Copperhead Course. For additional information call 727.942.2000 or visit www.innisbrookgolfresort.com.
Canadian Junior Golf Association
The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is a “registered Canadian amateur athletic association” (RCAAA) not-for-profit registered federally with Revenue Canada. The CJGA is dedicated to providing Canada’s junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf.
Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf. For more information please visit www.cjga.com.
The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by its National Partner, Freedom 55 Financial, which provides financial security advice and planning for Canadians.
For Additional Information:
John Lawrence
Tournament Director
Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA)
416-708-2438
john.lawrence@cjga.com
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