BRADENTON, Fla. – Shauna Liu of Maple, Ontario, Canada, delivered a stunning final-round performance at The Nelly Invitational presented by Chevron, finishing with a tournament total of 1-under-par 215. Starting the final round nine shots off the lead, Liu mounted an incredible comeback to capture the title.
Liu opened the tournament with a 5-over-par 77, placing her T24. She bounced back in the second round with a 1-over-par 73, climbing to T10.
In the final round, Liu dominated the course with a 7-under-par 65, tying the lowest round of the tournament. Her round included eight consecutive birdies from Nos. 6 through 13, a tournament record, which sent her to a playoff. She then went on to birdie the first playoff hole by sinking a 17-foot putt to claim victory.
"I came in today kind of just wanting to play and try my best. I had a stretch where I made eight birdies in a row, I was really dialed in with my approach shot and made a few putts."
This marks Liu’s fourth career AJGA victory. Her first came at the 2024 Memorial Junior, followed by back-to-back wins at the CDW Girls Junior All-Star Championship. She capped off the 2024 season with a T5 finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Liu’s 2024 season earned her Rolex Junior All-American and Junior All-Star Team honors. She was one of 15 players from the class of 2028 to compete and will make her debut at the Mizuho Americas Open next week.
Clara Ding of White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, finished in second with a tournament total of 1-under-par 215, her best Invitational result to date. At just 14 years old, Ding took an early lead in the first round with a four-under-par front nine, finishing it off with three consecutive birdies. After a tough second round, she was still able to extend the lead in the second round at 3-under-par.
Tied for third at 2-over-par 218 were Honorine Nobuta Ferry of Flower Mound, Texas, and Gianna Clemente of Estero, Florida. Amelie Zalsman of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Kayla Bryant tied for fifth at 3-over-par 219.
The following players round out the top-10:
7. Scarlett Schremmer of Birmingham, Alabama, 5-over-par 221
8. Alexa Takai of Honolulu, Hawaii, 6-over-par 222
T9. Alice Kong of Ile de France, France (France), 7-over-par 223
T9. Ann-Sophie Bourgault of Gatineau, Ontario, Canada (Canada) 7-over-par 223
The Nelly Invitational presented by Chevron brings the top-ranked junior golfers in the world to compete at The Concession Golf Club for a 54-hole, stroke-play tournament. The 2025 event includes 12 of the top 25 girls of the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
Representatives from 12 foreign countries and 18 U.S. states are set to compete in the all-girls event. There are also 32 players who have committed verbally or with a National Letter of Intent to play college golf. The field consists of 44 past AJGA champions and 27 Rolex Junior All-Americans.
Follow along on social with #TheNellyInv or check us out on X , Instagram and Facebook .