Norwegian shoots final round 64 to win Florida title
Argentina's Victoria Tanco after her play-0ff vctory in the Junior Orange Bowl girls' championship. Enlarge the images by clicking on them.
I'm disappointed butproud, says Stiggy
Hodgson after Junior Bowl
Hodgson after Junior Bowl
runner-up finish
PRESS RELEASE
By DAVID MACKINTOSH
In one of the most thrilling finishes in recent years, Norway’s 16-year-old Mathias Schjoelberg became the 45th Junior Orange Bowl boys' champion, holing a 15-foot par-saving putt on the final green to edge out three-round leader, England’s 18-year-old Stiggy Hodgson over the Biltmore course, Coral Gables in Florida..
Schjoelberg, who started three strokes behind Hodgson and carded a final round of 64 (6-under par) for a 12-under-par final total of 268, took the lead at the 71st hole after a barrage of birdies, which to his credit Hodgson withstood to the end.
“Mathias putted wonderfully all day,” Hodgson said. “For me it all came down to 17th hole where my drive landed in a divot in the rough. I thought about laying-up, short of the water, then took on the shot and still made bogey so Mathias went ahead. Reality is I shot 68, all four rounds in the 60s, so although I’m disappointed I’m also very proud of my performance.”
Hodgson birdied three of the first five holes and seemed uncatchable but Schjoelberg made up ground as the Englishman stalled and a par-saving chip-in by the Norwegian at the 12th changed everything. He birdied three of the last six holes and never doubted himself:
“I just knew I had to make birdies and I did. Stiggy gave me a chance and I was able to take it. I’m very happy.”
PRESS RELEASE
By DAVID MACKINTOSH
In one of the most thrilling finishes in recent years, Norway’s 16-year-old Mathias Schjoelberg became the 45th Junior Orange Bowl boys' champion, holing a 15-foot par-saving putt on the final green to edge out three-round leader, England’s 18-year-old Stiggy Hodgson over the Biltmore course, Coral Gables in Florida..
Schjoelberg, who started three strokes behind Hodgson and carded a final round of 64 (6-under par) for a 12-under-par final total of 268, took the lead at the 71st hole after a barrage of birdies, which to his credit Hodgson withstood to the end.
“Mathias putted wonderfully all day,” Hodgson said. “For me it all came down to 17th hole where my drive landed in a divot in the rough. I thought about laying-up, short of the water, then took on the shot and still made bogey so Mathias went ahead. Reality is I shot 68, all four rounds in the 60s, so although I’m disappointed I’m also very proud of my performance.”
Hodgson birdied three of the first five holes and seemed uncatchable but Schjoelberg made up ground as the Englishman stalled and a par-saving chip-in by the Norwegian at the 12th changed everything. He birdied three of the last six holes and never doubted himself:
“I just knew I had to make birdies and I did. Stiggy gave me a chance and I was able to take it. I’m very happy.”
Mathias Schjoelberg, pictured above with a Junior Orange Bowl official and the magnificent trophy, came out of the blue to win this major junior title. Although he was a member of the Norwegian squad who won the silver medals in the 2008 European boys' team championship, he has not achieved anything of note outwith Norway.
He finished tied seventh in the 2008 European Young Masters but did not play in the British boys championship. He will be 17 years old on June 16, 2009.
The girls' title went from nail-biting tension to marathon in which Argentina’s Victoria Tanco outlasted US Junior Girls Champion Alexis Thompson at the fifth sudden-death play-off hole after they had tied on four-under-par 276. The resilience that gained 14-year-old Tanco the American Junior Golf Association’s top ranking this year was evident as she made five solid pars at the long, uphill par-4 18th.
Thompson allowed Tanco into the tie when she bogeyed the 72nd hole. Last year Tanco finished in the top-5 and vowed she would come back and win. Now Argentina has their very first Junior Orange Bowl title and Victoria Tanco proved she is a worthy champion.
The girls' title went from nail-biting tension to marathon in which Argentina’s Victoria Tanco outlasted US Junior Girls Champion Alexis Thompson at the fifth sudden-death play-off hole after they had tied on four-under-par 276. The resilience that gained 14-year-old Tanco the American Junior Golf Association’s top ranking this year was evident as she made five solid pars at the long, uphill par-4 18th.
Thompson allowed Tanco into the tie when she bogeyed the 72nd hole. Last year Tanco finished in the top-5 and vowed she would come back and win. Now Argentina has their very first Junior Orange Bowl title and Victoria Tanco proved she is a worthy champion.
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