Mika Liu Captures The Sally

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. -- Under normal circumstances, a final-round 69 gets the job done when holding a share of the lead heading into the final round. Unfortunately for Kaitlyn Papp, her playing partner Mika Liu is no ordinary opponent. Liu, a high school junior, fired a bogey-free 5-under 67 in a flawless final-round victory at the prestigious Women’s South Atlantic Amateur (The Sally). This was Liu's second straight round of 67 as she put on a ball-striking clinic by hitting 17 greens in regulation. Her only scare of the day came on the her final hole of the tournament when a block off the tee hit the base of a palm tree and bounced 40 yards left into the fairway. Playing the way she did, Liu no doubt earned her good fortune. “I think, through a final round like this, when I really earn it, and I know I did, I’m really proud of myself,” Liu told The Daytona Beach News-Journal. If the past champions of this event prove any indication, the Stanford commit has big things yet to come. She joins the likes of legend Babe Zaharias, Christie Kerr, and Lexi Thompson as champions of The Sally. In fact, 5 of the last 6 winners of the championship have earned LPGA Tour status. The only exception being last year's winner Sierra Brooks who finished tied for 6th in this year's event.