Puerto Vallarta, MEX
El Tigre Golf and Country Club Kraig McLeod, Pebble Beach, Ca.
Once the eagle had landed, Kraig McLeod was in control.
McLeod holed a 10-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole and went on to a two-stroke victory in the 2010 Mexican Golf Federation Open at El Tigre Golf and Country Club at the Riviera Nayarit in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. “I hit a big drive, and the downwind was perfect for a six-iron which left it 10 feet from the hole,” said McLeod, a 16-year-old from Pebble Beach who will be a junior at Carmel High. “Then I hit (the putt) right in the heart.” McLeod claimed his second American Junior Golf Association victory by posting a score of 73-72-71–216, even par. His previous victory came in the 2008 Junior All-Star at Lubbock, Texas. Christopher Macasaet of Sacramento shot 72-73-73–218 and tied for second with Patrick Sanchez of Mexico, who finished at 72-73-73–218. Andrew Buchanan of Los Altos Hills totaled 73-70-76–219 and tied for fourth with Sam Chun of Howey in the Hills, Fla., who wound up at 73-71-75–219, and Domenico Geminiani of Bradenton, Fla., who finished at 69-76-74–219. Brock Drogosch of Westlake Village was seventh at 75-71-74–220, while Carlos Pena of Mission, Texas, carded a score of 74-75-73–222 and tied for eighth with Jay Kim of Canada, who came in at 75-72-75–222. Carlos Kim of Chula Vista shot 74-74-75–223 and tied for 10th with Jack McKinney of Big Bend, Wis., who wound up at 76-73-74–223, and Bruno Azcue of Mexico, who finished at 75-72-76–223. Shotaro Ban of San Jose tied for 13th at 74-74-76–224, Shearn Chua of Beaumont tied for 21st at 80-74-76–230, and Even McLeod of Pebble Beach finished 23rd at 76-72-83–231. In the Girls’ Division, Ana Ruiz of Mexico survived a double-bogey seven on the final hole of regulation to win a playoff over Ana Laura Gomez, also of Mexico. “Throughout the playoff, I felt a little pressure, but controlling the pressure is key,” the 14-year-old Ruiz said. “I’m at home here in Mexico, so knowing that made me feel more comfortable.” Ruiz posted a score of 71-76-79–226, while Gomez finished at 77-76-73–226. Robynn Ree of Redondo Beach was third at 78-74-76–228, while Viviana Vazquez of Mexico totaled 80-73-76–229 and tied for fourth with Daniela Ortiz, also of Mexico, who wound up at 79-76-74–229. Giovana Maymon of Mexico finished sixth at 80-74-76–230, followed by Regina Plasencia of Mexico at 81-71-79–231, Ana Paula Valdes of Mexico at 81-78-76–235, Catherine Herrera of Houston, Texas, at 79-82-75–236, and Maggie Neece of Colleyville, Texas, at 76-82-79–237. Victoria Nguyen of Santa Ana was 11th at 81-81-77–239, Natalie Hare of Scottsdale, Ariz., tied for 16th at 84-84-80–248, and Sara Scarlett of Woodland finished 18th at 78-87-84–249.
