JERSEY CITY, NJ - Aphrodite Deng of Short Hills, New Jersey, claimed the junior title at the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open, finishing with a total of 140 points in the Stableford-format event.
Deng began the final round in second place, trailing overnight leader Alice Ziyi Zhao of Irvine, California, by just one point. Paired alongside 2024 Mizuho Americas Open LPGA champion Nelly Korda and AJGA alumna Andrea Lee, Deng opened with three consecutive pars before notching birdies on the par-3 No. 4 and par-5 No. 6. After two more pars, she stumbled with a double bogey on the par-4 No. 9.
Deng regrouped on the back nine, again opening with three straight pars before converting a birdie on the par-5 No. 13 to earn three critical points. She closed with a steady two-putt par to secure a one-point victory and the junior title.
"The highlights were I got to play alongside Nelly Korda for both days, and it was really fun. It was really special being able to play alongside her and learn how she plays on the course and her game. She motivated me. When she made a putt, I tried to make it, too."
Victory stays home 🏆
— AJGA (@AJGAGolf) May 11, 2025
New Jersey native, Aphrodite Deng, is the 2025 champion of the #MizuhoAmericasOpen, marking her fourth AJGA title!@MizuhoLPGA pic.twitter.com/Jx4aiOyHRx
The Mizuho Americas Open offers a unique platform for 24 of the nation's top junior golfers to compete alongside a 120-player LPGA field, each vying for their own individual title.
The 2025 edition marked the third year of the groundbreaking partnership between the AJGA and LPGA, designed to spotlight the stars of today playing inside the ropes with the future of the game. This innovative format fosters mentorship, inspiration, and access for the next generation of LPGA Tour players.
On the professional side, Jeeno Thitikul captured her first LPGA title of the 2025 season, finishing at 17-under-par 271 to win by four strokes over Celine Boutier.