CORAL GABLES, FL. 30TH Dec: The 52st edition
of the Junior Orange Bowl International belongs
to Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and Switzerland’s
Albane Valenzuela.
Reitan posted a four-day total of 279, 5-under par
with a final-round 70, resilient play for a
tournament featuring stiff wind all week.
Valenzuela finished 3-under par (281) to take the
Girls Division by three strokes from France’s
Agathe Laisne and South Korea’s Euikyung Shin,
while frontrunner for most of the event, North
Carolina’s Emilia Migliaccio, finished 5th.
Defending champion Joaquin Niemann from Chile
and Belgium’s Adrien Dumont de Chassart both
birdied the 72nd hole to tie second place on even
par. Niemann’s attempt to become the first Boy
player to repeat the title was thwarted by a balky
putter, his ball striking as immaculate as ever.
“It’s the way golf goes, but obviously frustrating,”
he said.
Will Dickson from Providence RI was the low USA
boy, tied 7th on 288.
“It feels amazing,” Reitan, 17, said afterwards.
“That was the hardest round of golf I’ve ever
played, mentally really exhausting, having to
keep my emotions in check for the entire day. I
was particularly pleased to avoid doing anything
stupid, especially toward the end. To feel all these
emotions on a golf course was a really good
experience and hopefully will be useful in the
future.”
Asked at what stage he began to believe he could
win, the charismatic young Norwegian confessed
“It was never easy. After the first nine, when I led
by five strokes, I was still thinking there was a
long way to go. Then I bogeyed three in a row
and the lead was down to two. Luckily I was able
to birdie the 13th and from there on I got more
comfortable. But it was only when I hit the 17th
green that I felt I had compete control.”
Valenzuela came into the week full of confidence,
having won at the Doral Junior the week pre-
Christmas and competing in the JOBI for the third
time.
“The golf course suits my game,” she said. “After
last year (when she finished third) I knew that if I
played my style of golf, I would have a chance. To
actually achieve my ambition of winning this
event, well it still has to sink in.” A solid final
round of 70 sealed the championship. “I enjoy
attacking pins and that’s how I played today, and
it worked.”
Now she’s off to challenge for the Mexican
Amateur in Guadalajara, a tournament where her
father was runner-up four times. “I’d love to win
there for family honor, but honestly, to win the
Junior Orange Bowl is truly fantastic.”
Courtesy of Junior Orange BowlView results for Junior Orange Bowl
ABOUT THE Junior Orange Bowl
72-hole invitation-only event. Players must
not
have reached their 19th birthday by the
end of
the tournament and must not be
participating
on a College/University team. The field is
limited to a maximum of 72 Boys and 42
girls
representing US and Foreign
Countries.
There are
no
age categories and there is no cut during
the
Championship. Invitations are sent out in
mid-
September. The tournament's
alumni list includes
current professional players Tiger Woods,
Bubba Watson,
and Lexi Thompson.
The golf tournament
is
just one of 15 competitions among The Junior
Orange
Bowl Festival. This volunteer-led, not-for-profit
organization hosts athletic, academic, and cultural
competitions that draw over 7,500 youth from
Miami,
the State of Florida, across the United States, and
over
76 countries worldwide to compete. The annual
marquee event rounding out each festival season is
the
Junior Orange Bowl Parade, a community based
youth
parade that travels through the historic streets of
Coral
Gables featuring high school and college marching
bands, floats and various youth and community
groups
attracting over 35,000 families, friends, and
neighbors.
It dates back to 1948.
View Complete Tournament Information