Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship

2012 Championship Dates: December 26-30, 2012

2012 Qualifier Dates: December 18-19, 2012


Tournament Director, J.R. Steinbauer with Tournament Champions, Patrick Kelly (GBR) and Maria Torres (PR). 

Boys field, tee times, and scores. 

Girls field, tee times, and scores. 

The Biltmore Golf Course
1210 Anastasia Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Chair: Bonita Whytehead
Director: J.R. Steinbauer, Jr.

For tournament information, please contact us at (305) 461-1959 or email golf@jrorangebowl.com

Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship – Final

CORAL GABLES, FL; 30 Dec: Puerto Rico’s Maria Torres and England’s Patrick Kelly are the new Junior Orange Bowl champions, Torres edging USA’s Nicole Morales by the single stroke she gained at the 72^nd hole, Kelly going wire-to-wire for a stunning thirteen-stroke victory.

Torres appeared to have the title well under control, opening up a 4-stroke advantage by the 14^th hole over USA’s Nicole Morales, earlier-rounds leader Megan Khang fading under pressure from a balky putter.

That moment when the pleasure of leading snaps into the pressure of winning came on the 15^th green, where Morales holed a 40-foot par-save and Torres missed for birdie, then followed up with a cast-iron birdie at the 16^th, which Torres three-putted.

The pair drew level at the 17^th, again from a Torres error, but instead of grasping her advantage at the par-five closer, Morales uncharacteristically pull-hooked her 3-wood approach into trouble and was unable to get close in four shots--- leaving Torres a short and simple tap-in par for the title.

“I’m very happy, for me, my coach, my country,” Torres said excitedly, after checking and rechecking her card, almost in disbelief. “Every day I’ve hoped, expected, to make birdie at the last hole and each day I’ve made a par. Today I really thought I would need a birdie to tie Nicole, but I get a par again, and I win. It was a big surprise.”  

Patrick Kelly began the day with a seven-stroke advantage and was never in trouble. Even when USA’s Cory Pereira holed out from greenside sand at the 6^th to get within five, Kelly responded with a birdie of his own at the 7^th, one of his many fine long irons of the tournament, hurled through a 25mile-per hour crosswind to within six feet of the hole.

 Just to emphasize his triumphant week, one where he overcame severe conjunctivitis and recurring nosebleeds, the 18-year old Englishman concluded his final round with a birdie on the 17^th and a chip- in eagle-3 at the final hole. “It’s a thrill and an honor to win this famous event, Kelly said. “I’m delighted.”

Argentina’s Jaime Lopez-Riverola claimed outright second place at 6-under par for the week, while worth noting Kelly’s 19-under par total of 263 is the second lowest winning score in the 49 years of this championship.

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Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship - Round 3

CORAL GABLES, FL; 29 Dec: With a solid 5-under par round of 66 and a three-day total of 199, 14-under par, Patrick Kelly hopes to become a wire-to-wire winner of the 49^th JOBI--- provided he can keep the objective in sight.

For the past three days the 18-year old Englishman has struggled with severe conjunctivitis and has been seeing the ball with only one eye.

“I’ve got used to it, I suppose,” he said, after extending his lead to seven strokes on a blustery overcast day.

In the Girls section, a tough-it-out 74 by Megan Khang was just enough to maintain the lead, reduced from five overnight to a single stroke ahead of Puerto Rico’s Maria Torres, who returned a superb bogey-free 66.

After her round Torres said she wasn’t sure why everything went so smoothly:  “I really don’t know. I was just in my zone today. Everything worked, especially putting. I only missed four greens and got up and down each time, twice with good chips and twice from bunkers. I just felt so good, so in control for the entire round.”        

Khang, who bogeyed four consecutive holes on the front nine, took consolation from the fact she was able to bounce back in the closing stretch. “I think I went out with an over-aggressive mind set, trying to extend the lead early. That did not work out so well, but one thing, I did not get down on myself and I was able to finish strong.”

Nicole Morales, three behind the leader and in solo third slot after her third round of 72, commented wryly,” Well, if nothing else I’m consistent. But I’m still waiting for the one day when my driver and putter both work together. Hopefully that happens tomorrow.”

Khang on the other hand has decided her Sunday plan is simplicity. “I have to get back to my basic routine, play one shot at a time, to concentrate on the task at hand and not on my opponents’ play.”  

Kelly started the day with a single stroke lead but quickly moved ahead with birdies at the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th.  

“Once again I got off to a really fast start. I’ve been four, three and three under for the first five holes each day, which really helps a lot, particularly today because when I bogeyed 7 and 8 I really wasn’t concerned.”

A birdie at 9 got him back on track and after that he produced some wonderful golf which included a 25-foot birdie putt at the 15^th, followed by a wedge shot from 105yds that finished inches from the cup.

Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship - Round 2

CORAL GABLES, FL; 28 Dec: Megan Khang is the new Girls leader, posting the day’s lowest girls’ round of 70, a two-day total of 139, a 5-stroke advantage over Nicole Morales and Delfina Acosta. Overnight leader Acosta gave up ground with a 5-over par 76.

Khang mastered a stiff breeze with solid ball-striking and a deft short game, although she confessed in the early stages she failed to convert several straightforward birdie opportunities.

“My putting was not good in the beginning but improved as the round progressed,” the diminutive 15-year old from Rockland, MA explained. “Even so, I was two over by the 13^th but managed to finish strong. I birdied the 16th, rimmed the cup for another at 17 then eagled the closing par-five.”

On the other hand Argentina’s Acosta biggest problem came on the greens, a balky putter that continually misfired: “It’s simple,” she explained. “Yesterday I missed seven greens and scored 68, today I missed five greens and finished five-over par. I need to get my putting back on track.”   

Nicole Morales, one of the title favorites, posted a second 72 for 144. “I short-sided myself around a few greens but luckily, my putting was in better shape today,” the 16-year old plus-4 handicapper from South Salem, NY said. “Yesterday I was great from the tee, today not at all. Hopefully for the weekend I can get my entire game together.”

In the Boys Division England’s Patrick Kelly maintained his overnight lead, adding a solid 3-under par 68 to his opening 65, California’s Corey Pereira vaulting into solo second spot with a 7-birdie 66 for 134.

After spending three hours in hospital care yesterday for severe conjunctivitis and nosebleeds, 18-year old Kelly wasn’t even sure he would be able to see well enough to continue; but when he opened his round with three consecutive birdies he put his blurry eyesight out of mind.   

“I’ve sort of got used to it and new eye drops have helped. I could have made at least three more birdies over the next stretch but instead I made my first bogey at the 12^th and another at the 14^th, both from poor bunker shots. Fortunately I was able to get one back with a birdie at the final hole.

“This course really requires a lot of shot positioning and I’m learning that as I go,” the leader added. “Fortunately from the start I’ve had great pace on these greens, which are now getting really slick.”   

Players moving into contention for the final 36 include Austria’s Robin Goger 67 (135) Argentina’s Jamie Lopez-Rivarola, 67 (136), Bolivia’s Jose Montano 69 (137), Austria’s Robin and Germany’s Max Mehles 67 (138). Much-fancied pre-tournament favorite South African Haydn Porteous, after an even-par 71 is now six strokes adrift.

***   

Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship - Round 1

CORAL GABLES, FL; 27 Dec: The 49^th edition of this prestigious tournament got off to a fast start today, England’s Patrick Kelly blistering around the famed Donald Ross Biltmore GC under sunny south Florida skies in 6-under par 65.

Kelly leads Trinidad’s Matthew Marquez and Californian Jonah Texiera by two strokes, three ahead of a group of six players on 68 which includes South Africa’s Haydn Porteous.

“Frankly I feel very lucky to be playing at all. I’ve had severe conjunctivitis for the past week, and today I could only see out of one eye,” the leader explained.

That one-eyed stare was good enough for a chip-in eagle 3 at the opening hole and two more birdies for a blemish free outward nine of 31.

“I also had a nosebleed, which started on the 3^rd and troubled me most of the day, so getting the round in at all was pretty amazing.”

Kelly added two more birdies at the 12^th and 15^th and closed bogey-free: “My putting was the secret. I holed everything from 8 feet and in. Lining up with just one eye was really strange, but somehow it worked.”

After the round Kelly rushed off to see a doctor, with every hope he’ll be cured enough to continue: “I almost quit after nine today. Now I simply can’t imagine not continuing,” the 18-year old from England’s Lincolnshire said.

Much-fancied Porteous stayed well in the hunt, the young South African superstar in-the-making bouncing around with seven birdies and four bogeys. “I haven’t played well these past months,” he declared, “but I think my game is turning around this week.”

Argentina’s Delfina Acosta leads the Girls tournament with a 3-under par 68, edging USA’s Megan Khang by a stroke. Germany’s Franziska Fredrich claimed solo third at ever-par 71. Three are tied for 4^th at 72.

“I did not play well last week at the Doral tournament but I was able to find the problem on the range here,” Acosta said. “Today I made a commitment to playing one shot at a time, and when I missed greens (she missed seven) I did so on the side where I could save par. I also putted really well, which is always the secret to a low score.”

Khang claimed the outright lead with a birdie at the difficult water-guarded 17^th but gave the advantage back with a bogey at the par-five closing hole, which Acosta birdied to regain pole position.  “I am either very happy or disappointed, I’m not sure which right now,” confessed the diminutive 15-yearold from Rockwell, MA. “I putted great but double-bogeyed 11 and dropped two more shots on the back nine. But to be where I am after that, well, I guess I’m happy.”

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Click here to see photos from the 2011 Championship. (Photos courtesy of Will Tirado)

Click here to see video from the 2011 Final Round and awards ceremony.

Click here to see 2011 results.

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