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Wittenberg,
Lang Take Summer's First Major
First-Team
Polo Golf Junior All-Americans Claim Thunderbird International
Junior
By Seth Silverstein
Two days
after the men's course record was tied, Brittany Lang decided
to do the same for the ladies' record. The McKinney, Texas,
native fired a final round of 4-under-par 68 at the Thunderbird
International Junior to tie the course record and take the
win. In the Boys Division, Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, Tenn.,
held on for a two-shot victory.
The third
annual Thunderbird International Junior, conducted by the
American Junior Golf Association at Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor
Course, featured 90 players representing 24 states and six
foreign countries. Seventy Polo Golf Junior All-Americans,
including both 2001 Polo Golf Junior Players of the Year,
competed.
Brittany
Lang and Casey Wittenberg |
Lang,
16, entered the final round three shots off the lead but after
two bogeys on the front nine, she put together a string of
four straight birdies starting on hole No. 9 to take the lead.
“I
did not start off well," she said. “I got into a
groove on No. 9 and was just thinking about making birdies.
Once I got on the birdie streak, I knew that if I kept it
up I would give myself a chance to win. I was sticking my
iron shots and I kept making birdies.”
Lang finished
the day with seven birdies for a four-stroke victory while
tying the competitive course record that Kim Kouwabunpat set
two years ago at this event.
Coming
down 18 fairway, Lang did not look at the leaderboard to see
where she stood. Instead she chose to just play her game and
hope for the best. Her errant approach shot on the par-5 landed
in the water hazard and after taking a drop, she got up-and-down
for a bogey and a two-shot victory.
“This
win means a lot to me,” she continued. “I feel lucky
to have won this international tournament. It tells me that
all my practice, hard work and commitment are paying off now
and hopefully in the future.”
In-Bee
Park of Eustis, Fla., took runner-up honors with a three-round
total of 1-over-par 217. Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton, Fla.,
and Jane Park of Beaumont, Calif., tied for third at 2-over-par
218.
In the
Boys Division, Wittenberg entered the round with a six-stroke
lead. After a 39 on the front nine, he had only a two-stroke
margin at the turn.
“Today
was pretty rough,” the 17-year-old said. “I hit
16 greens but I did not hit it close to the hole. I missed
some important putts early and I did not make the putts I
had been making all week.”
“On
the back nine I tried to focus,” he continued. “When
I saw them making a charge, I realized I needed to get going.
I tried to get back in front and I held on. I wish I could
have played better.”
The 2001
Polo Golf Boys Junior Player of the Year put together nines
of 39-34 for a 1-over-par 73 in the final round of the international
championship.
“This
tournament is the hardest to qualify for and it feels like
a (PGA TOUR) major,” Wittenberg said. “No other
tournament has this atmosphere and everyone has a good time
here. This is great to win and it was an honor to be here.”
Tyler
Ley of Santa Barbara, Calif., who began the round seven shots
off the pace, made a run at Wittenberg by carding four birdies
for a 4-under-par 68. He finished the tournament two shots
back at 6-under-par 210. Brendon Todd of Cary, N.C., finished
the tournament with a birdie and an eagle to finish at 5-under-par
211. Rounding out the top five were Kevin Larsen of Santa
Barbara, Calif., and Henry Liaw of Rowland Heights, Calif.,
at 4-under-par 212.
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