Yana Wilson eagles her way to ANNIKA Invitational title

January 18, 2022 | by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com

Three eagles on the day, including one in a playoff, earn AJGA's fifth-ranked player dramatic victory at Eagle Creek Golf Club

Yana Wilson has won over 110 tournaments during her illustrious junior career, but the 15-year-old won't soon forget her win Tuesday at the ANNIKA Invitational USA Junior Championship at the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.

Wilson, a native of Henderson, Nev., made two eagles en route to a final round 69 to pull event with 36-hole leader Anna Davis at the end of regulation at 12-under 207.

Then, on the first playoff hole, Wilson slam-dunked a wedge from 75-yards out to close out the win for her second AJGA title.

Wilson and Davis of Spring Valley, Calif., went back and forth throughout the final round which began with Davis holding a three-shot lead at 11-under-par 135. When Davis dropped shots on holes No. 3 and 5 to slip back to 9-under, Wilson took advantage of the situation with her first eagle of the day on No. 7, holing a wedge from 75 yards out to take a one-stroke lead.

After Davis birdied the ninth, the two players made the turn tied at 10-under. She regained the lead with another birdie on 11, but two holes later, Wilson made her second eagle of the day on the par-5 483-yard 13th hole to move to 12-under and take a one-stroke lead.

Wilson kept her lead until a bogey on the 17th moved her back to 11-under-par and tied with Davis. Both girls birdied the final hole of the day to finish at 12-under and force a playoff.

Davis could only shake her head as she watched Wilson hole another wedge from the fairway for her third eagle of the day to win the championship.

"To win this invitational feels great," said Wilson. "I've never won an (AJGA) invitational before and since Annika is here it's really cool."

With the victory, Wilson, a two-time national Drive, Chip and Putt champion, qualified to participate in the amateur field of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions this week at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Fla. where she will compete alongside LPGA champions and world-class celebrity players.

The tournament will be televised live, airing Thursday and Friday on Golf Channel and Saturday and Sunday on NBC.

About the ANNIKA Invitational

Yana Wilson eagles her way to ANNIKA Invitational title

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the ANNIKA Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play competition featuring 72 girls, ages 14-18.

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