Vilips, Chun win at Polo Golf Junior Classic
RINGOES » Extreme confidence and almost no confidence Friday produced victory in the Polo Golf Junior Classic at The Ridge at Back Brook.
Karl Vilips started the final round with a sevenshot lead and won comfortably with a four-round score of 8-under 280.
Youngin Chun began her round two shots back, played poorly through eight holes and whispered a personal concession.
“After that bogey on No. 8, I just told myself to try and finish in the top 5. I was three shots behind and not playing well. I just said, ‘Be happy,’” Chun said.
Back nines were made for recovery and Chun found a small spark with an approach shot that finished two feet under the hole. Birdie.
Fortunes turned on No. 12 for Chun and many other challengers as leader Jennifer Chang hit her tee shot into the water and made double bogey while Gina Kim three putted for bogey on the par three.
All three players stood at 1-under along with Calista Reyes, Yealimi Noh and Kaitlyn Papp.
While only Reyes could make par on the uphill, 183yard par 3 16th, Chun hit a crisp 4-iron then rolled home a 25-foot downhill birdie putt.
“I tried not to think about winning. That would have made me too nervous,” she explained.
“But I could see the line for the putt. And I thought I could make it.”
Chun moved to 2-under as contenders faded. Confidence returned as the 17-year-old found the middle of the fairway at No. 16.
“Then a 7-iron from 146 yards. But I knew the home was set on the back ridge. I just swung a little harder,” Chun said.
The Floridian, via South Korea, made a seven-foot birdie putt, moved to 3-under and finished with two pars and two shots clear of Chang.
Vilips, 15, posted a 1-over73, his only round above par but won by four shots against Joe Highsmith and Prescott Butler, who posted a final round 5-under 67.
The boys division produced first-round drama potential as several players were near Vilips’ 68.
Vilips’ second-round 67 left almost no doubt about the conclusion as the Aussie won his fourth American Junior Golf Association tournament.
“I had played some solid golf leading up to this tournament. I knew something good was going to happen soon,” Vilips said confidently.
“I gave no thought to the seven shot lead. Just wanted to keep playing well. Everything came together on all points. I just got the job done.”
Chun laughed about her fifth title in 37 AJGA events.
“I finished second in this tournament last year,” Chun remembered.
“Thought the ending here might be worse. Never expected this. I’m so happy, I can’t even eat lunch.”