Norman Xiong (L) and Lucy Li after Junior PGA Championship victories
(PGA of America Photo)

Xiong, who hails from Canyon Lake, California, won his Junior PGA Championship debut by two strokes over Patrick Welch, of Providence, Rhode Island. The victory assured Xiong and Welch of berths on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team, which will square off against their junior counterparts from Europe, Sept. 26-27 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota.

Xiong’s 2-under, four-day total of 274 was remarkable considering he was under the weather for most of the week. Add to that a dose of oppressive humidity, wet/soggy conditions on Wednesday, week- long breezy conditions on Donald Ross’ revered par-69 Wannamoisett, and Xiong’s hoisting of the Jack Nicklaus Trophy is all the more impressive.

“From my first practice round, I knew that this course really fit my game” said Xiong, who was the lone member of the Boys’ Division to finish under par. “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.”

One-under after 54 holes, Xiong led by a single shot over Davis Shore of Knoxville, Tennessee. In all, 12 players were within four shots and in hot pursuit.

Xiong started Friday strong, carding three birdies on the front side. A bogey on No. 7 was his first blemish in 17 holes dating to Thursday’s third round.

Along the way, Xiong thwarted various charges by the hometown favorite, Welch (even-par, 276) and Shore (third place, one-over par, 277).

Nursing a one-shot advantage, Xiong’s successful 15-footer for birdie on the par-5 17th provided needed breathing room, and his par on 18, the cherished victory.

“I hit a good drive and had 243 yards left in,” said Xiong of his decisive birdie on 17. “I took the time to feel and imagine my shot, then I hit it almost exactly as I wanted to. Really solid. It was a bit long, over the hole. My lag putt was not very good, but I made the 15- footer coming back. I got really pumped.”

On the Girls’ side, Mariel Galdiano of Pearl City, Hawaii led after 18 and 36 holes and appeared to be cruising early Friday. With five straight pars to start the morning, her lead reached four shots.

Then came a troubling bogey-double-double sequence on holes 6-8. A birdie at 9 stopped the bleeding, but the damage was done.

Meanwhile, two groups ahead, Li posted birdies on 5, 7 and 8 to grab a share of the top spot.

Li’s inward nine was as steady as it was Championship worthy. Five consecutive pars set the stage for a shiny birdie on the 135-yard par-3 15th hole. That gave the Redwood, California native a two- shot cushion on Galdiano, who bogeyed 13, and Youngin Chun of Gainesville, Florida, who bogeyed No. 14.

A poor chip from Li on the 72nd hole rendered a bogey and left the door open for Galdiano, who could force a playoff with a birdie on either the difficult par-5 17th or the par-4 18th.

Back-to-back 5s, however, cemented a final-round 77 and capped Galdiano’s lost day. Her incredible junior career, which included three Hawaii state high school golf championships, a trio of berths in the U.S. Women’s Open and a spot in the 2016 Curtis Cup, could not be sullied by a poor round.

“Today was hard,” a stoic Galdiano confirmed. “This is something that I hope to learn from. I did see how well I can play and for long stretches. That said, I didn’t carry it on and play all the way through. That’s the disappointment.”

Galdiano will report to Westwood and begin her collegiate golf career at UCLA later this month.

When Li woke up this morning, she didn’t see this coming.

“At six shots back, I honestly thought there was absolutely no chance that I could get back into this,” said the 13-year-old Li, who at the age of 11 made history by qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open. “(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.”

Although Li’s scorecard told a different story, her 2- under 69 was the low round of the day in the Girls’ Division, she was not overly impressed with her own play.

“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.”

With her win, Li gained three new Junior Ryder Cup teammates: Alyaa Abdulghany of Newport Beach, California, Xiong and Welch.

“I love this Championship, but I also knew I wanted to earn a spot in the Junior Ryder Cup,” said Li. “I am so excited. Team golf will be new for me, especially in a formal setting.”

Xiong’s sentiments were similar.

“My biggest goal, which I set in the beginning of the year, was to earn a spot in the Junior Ryder Cup. I’m glad I achieved it, especially this way. Not making our Captain have to choose me. Hopefully, that makes things easier and helps us win.”