One thing’s for sure about the ANNIKA Invitational, it certainly doesn’t lack for dramatic endings.
With 72 of the top female junior golfers in the world, including 16 of the top 25 girls in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, vying for one of junior golf’s most coveted titles at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, fireworks and scintillating finishes are the norm rather than the exception.
Such was the case Tuesday, when Ashleen Kaur, Katie Li and Alice Ziyi Zhao staged a memorable back-nine duel that wasn’t settled until the final hole, when Kaur eagled the par-5 18th to earn a one-stroke victory.
Zhao, a 13-year-old who earned co-medalist honors at last summer’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay, took a one-shot lead into the final round and increased her lead to two at the turn after a run of three consecutive birdies on holes 6-8.
The @BaylorWGolf commit won with a score of (-15) 204! pic.twitter.com/CJd7f8g82e
— AJGA (@AJGAGolf) January 17, 2023
But with three holes remaining, Kaur found herself tied with Duke commit and four-time Rolex Junior All-American Katie Li at 14 under while Zhao was just one back.
Zhao gained a share of the lead with a birdie on 16, but when she and Kaur both made bogeys on the 17th, Li stood on the 18th tee box with a one-stroke lead.
After using her length to reach the 489-yard 18th in two, Kaur drained her 40-foot putt for an eagle and a final round of 69 to take the title. Her 54-hole score of 15-under 204 established a new tournament scoring record by three strokes and gave her a one-stroke win over Li and Zhao.
“It means a lot to compete in this event hosted by Annika,” said Kaur, who was making her first start at the ANNIKA Invitational. “She was a huge inspiration to me growing up so getting to compete here and win it is incredible.”
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