Emma Talley blistered the course for a 4-under-par 68 in Thursday’s final round to capture medalist honors in the SAP Junior Open in Avon, Ohio.
That was the lowest round of the tournament, giving Talley a 54-hole score of 1-under-par 215.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the SAP Junior Open was played this week at Red Tail Golf Club. The field featured 90 boys and 30 girls, ages 12-18, from 19 states and Canada, Colombia and Indonesia.
The par-72 course was played at 6,151 yards in the Girls Division.
Talley, who entered Thursday’s round in a three-way tie for the lead, played her first five holes of the day at 4-under-par.
The 2008 honorable mention Rolex Junior All-American’s winning total of 1-under will propel her into next week’s Rolex Tournament of Champions at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Talley opened the final round on fire, birdying Nos. 1 and 2. After parring the par-5 third hole, Talley came back to birdie the next two holes, then added another birdie on No. 7 to get to 5-under on the day. A bogey on No. 8 left her at 4-under 32 on the front nine.
Talley was steady on the back side, recording a birdie on No. 14 to again get to 5-under but bogeying 16 before finishing with back-to-back pars.
“I lost a little concentration on No. 16 when I three-putted but I learned that you need to focus on the present and not your competitors and to just play the course,” Talley said. “It feels really good to win at one of my favorite courses and to win heading into next week.”
Rounding out the Girls Division in second was Devon Brown of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., who posted an even-par 72 Thursday and a three-day total of 3-over-par 219. In a tie for third were Michelle Lee of Mississauga, Ontario, and Elizabeth Breed of Waynesboro, Pa., who both finished at 6-over-par 222.
Talley opened the tournament on Tuesday with a 2-over-par 74, which left her in a tie for third.
However, Talley came back Wednesday and carded a 1-over 73 to move into the three-way tie for the lead.
Talley’s second round included birdies on Nos. 1 and 12, but bogeys on Nos. 2, 3 and 15.
“I hit the ball better today but I just couldn’t putt and putting is where the game is won and lost,” Talley said after the round. “Winning before Rolex Tournament of Champions next week would be great for my confidence but I need to work on short-distance putting.”
The Rolex Tournament of Champions is the premier event on the AJGA schedule and will feature 144 of the world’s best junior golfers, ages 12-18.
The tourney is a 72-hole stroke play invitational event. There will be a cut in both divisions Thursday, July 2, after 36 holes.
The Rolex Tournament of Champions is the longest-running event on the AJGA schedule, dating back to 1978.
Thirty states, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Mexico and Peru are represented in the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Forty-five Rolex Junior All-Americans will be competing in the AJGA event.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
The AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 25 foreign countries.
