Team USA claim the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship
The United States capped off a convincing wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship on Wednesday.
Megan Khang (72) and Angel Yin (72) counted a final day total of even-par 144 as the American squad finished with a four day total of 17-under par at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
Despite shooting a non-counting round of 1-over 73, Mika Liu went on to capture individual honours.
"Yes, I am extremely happy that my team won first and that I did too – it is a total celebration," said Liu "To be able to share the podium with my teammates who were out there on the course with me and my captain and manager makes me extremely happy and proud because we came here together and we are able to leave as champions together."
Sweden, which began the day in fifth, five shots off the podium, rallied for a final day total of 5-under par led by 18-year-old Emma Svensson, who carded the low round of the day, 67. That helped the Swedes capture second place, 16 strokes behind the winning Americans.
Canada, which began the day in second place, shot a final day total of 5-over par to finish third. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. and Grace St-Germain of Ottawa paced the Canadian attack with rounds of 72 and 77, respectively, while Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. posted a non-counting score of 81 on the final day. Henderson, the No. 1 ranked amateur player in the world, finished fourth in the individual standings.
Teams from Denmark and Spain rounded out the top five.
Canada's second entry in the event, comprised of Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, Selena Costabile fo Thornhill, Ont., and Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C., finished tied for 13th