Norman Xiong of Canyon Lake and Lucy Li of Redwood Shores gave California a sweep in the 41st Junior PGA Championships at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, R.I.
Xiong, who has committed to play for Oregon following his senior year at Temescal Canyon High, shot 1-under-par 68 to beat Patrick Welch of Providence, R.I., by two strokes in the Boys’ Division, while the 13-year-old Li came from six shots down with a 2-under-par 69 to defeat Alyaa Abdulghany of Newport Beach, Calif., and Mariel Galdiano of Pearl City, Hawaii, also by two strokes.
Xiong posted a score of 68-70-68-68–274, while Welch wound up at 69-71-69-67–276.
“To be honest, I find it easier to have the lead,” said Xiong, who took a one-stroke lead into the final round and stayed in control the rest of the way after shooting 2-under 32 on the front nine.
“From my first practice round, I knew that this course really fit my game. 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.”
Kyle Vance of Audubon, Pa., totaled 69-67-72-69–277 to tie for third with Davis Shore of Knoxville, Tenn., who came in at 66-73-68-70–277, and Ryan Gerard of Raleigh, N.C., was fifth at 72-68-70-68–278.
Li, who became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open at age 11, carded a score of 66-71-69–206, 7-under, while Abdulghany finished at 71-67-70–208, and Galdiano, who led after each of the first two rounds, wound up at 64-67-77–208.
“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.
“I didn’t think I played all that good, but it was really windy today, and that made it tough. I am used to playing the in the wind, so that might have been an advantage for me.”
Gina Kim of Chapel Hill, N.C., shot 67-67-76–210 and tied for fourth with Youngin Chun of Gainesville, Fla., who finished at 69-67-74–210.
The Girls’ tournament was shortened to 54 holes because of rain and unplayable course conditions on Wednesday.
