13-year-old Lucy Li wins Junior PGA Championship
RUMFORD, R.I. (AP) - Lucy Li won the Junior PGA Championship on Friday at age 13, a year off LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson's record in the event.
Li, from Redwood, California, closed with a 2-under 69 in hot and windy conditions at Wannamoisett for a two-stroke victory. She finished at 7-under 206 in the rain-shortened event.
"I didn't think I played all that good, but it was really windy today, and that made it tough," Li said. "I am used to playing the in the wind, so that might have been an advantage for me."
Thompson won the first of her two titles in 2007 at age 12 at Westfield Group in Ohio. Two years ago at age 11, Li became the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women's Open history.
Norman Xiong won the boys' division by two strokes. The 17-year-old Xiong, a high school senior in Canyon Lake, California, who will begin play at Oregon in a year, shot a 1-under 68. He was the only player under par for 72 holes, finishing at 2-under 274.
"From my first practice round, I knew that this course really fit my game" Xiong said. "That said, the conditions were really difficult. Round two was wet, and for me, the third day was so hot. The course, however, played great the whole week. I loved it."
Sixteen-year-old Patrick Welch of nearby Providence was second after a 67.
In girls' play, Mariel Galdiano of Pearl City, Hawaii, the leader after each of the first two rounds, had a 77 to tie for second with Alyaa Abdulghany (70) of Newport Beach, California.
Li started the round six strokes behind Galdiano.
"At six shots back, I honestly thought there was absolutely no chance that I could get back into this," Li said. "(Mariel) was playing so well, I just couldn't see it. Then in the 13th hole I looked at the leaderboard and I was at the top."
Li and the 17-year-old Abdulghany earned spots on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team next month in Minnesota.
"I love this championship, but I also knew I wanted to earn a spot in the Junior Ryder Cup," Li said. "I am so excited. Team golf will be new for me, especially in a formal setting."
The 18-year-old Galdiano played her final junior tournament. She will be a freshman at UCLA
"I was playing lousy golf early," Galdiano said. "I was affected by the heat, but I put myself in some bad positions and posted some higher numbers. ... Today was hard. This is something that I hope to learn from. I did see how well I can play and for long stretches. That said, I didn't carry it on and play all the way through. That's the disappointment."
Xiong and Welch also earned spots on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team.
"My biggest goal, which I set in the beginning of the year, was to earn a spot in the Junior Ryder Cup," Xiong said. "I'm glad I achieved it, especially this way. Not making our captain have to choose me. Hopefully, that makes things easier and helps us win."