Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Campos bests Morard in playoff
FAYETTEVILLE — Zoe Antoinette Campos defeated Michaela Morard on the first playoff hole to win the third annual KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational on Thursday.
Campos immediately applied pressure when she teed off first on the par-3, No. 9 at Fayetteville Country Club. Using an 8-iron, she stuck the ball eight feet from the pin. Players, college coaches and spectators feared the shot was going to be wide right as the ball left the tee box.
“I knew I hit it well, and I knew it would draw back into the hole,” said Campos, a 14-year-old from Valencia, Calif. “I’m just happy I hit a good shot. If it got to her, then it got to her. That’s just part of it.”
Morard hit four shots before Campos even had to putt. By that time, Campos only needed to two- putt for the win, but instead sank the eight- footer to begin a celebration that
included friend and fellow AJGA golfer Briana Chacon squirting bottled water all over Campos.
“Every time I’m in a playoff, I always get nervous,” Campos said. “But I always know how to handle myself and I’m glad I did it right this time, too.”
Campos, who said she’s strongly considering golfing at UCLA in college, was one-under par on Thursday to give herself a three-day total of 209 (-4) for the tourney. The playoff hole was Campos’ second time to birdie No. 9 on Thursday. She said sinking a long putt on that hole during her round gave her confidence and kept her in the championship hunt.
“When I finished the ninth hole, I knew I was still in it and knew I could still do it,” Campos said. “My putts didn’t drop in on the back-9, so it was a struggle, but I made it through.”
Elina Sinz, who sat atop the
leaderboard through the first two rounds, had a two-stroke lead heading into the final two holes. But a bogey on No. 17 a
double bogey on No. 18 (she three-putted after escaping a sand trap) dropped Sinz into a tie for third and forced the playoff between Campos and Morard, who’s already verbally committed to Alabama.
In the boys’ division, Jackson Rivera of Rancho Santa Fe shot a two-under par during his final round to finish with a 204 (-6) for his second tournament victory in the past month. He birdied three of the final seven holes to win by two strokes.
“I think I was back three (of the leader) at one point, so I was a little frustrated,” Rivera said. “I figured I’ve got nothing to lose and might as well go right at the pins, so I hit some shots close and was able to get some birdies.”
Rivera entered the day tied for the lead with Dawson Ovard, who finished third. Kelvin Lim rocketed from 11th to second place with a five-under par in his final round.
John Daly II was four-over par on Thursday to come in 12th overall with a total score of 214 at the three-day event.