A month ahead of the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, Japan’s Yuka Nishina played in Hawaii and earned a qualifying spot for the upcoming the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur.
It turns out that Nishina was just getting warmed up.
Nishina prevailed by one shot with a 9-under-par 210 over three rounds, winning the girls age 13-14 Junior World title at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo on Thursday.
After sharing a one-shot lead to start the day, Nishina held forth with an even-par 71, coming off rounds of 70 and 69, respectively.
“I’m very excited (about the victory),” Nishina said through a translator. “Compared to the first and second days, my shots weren’t that great, but my par putts went in, so I’m really happy about that.”
Next up is the U.S. Junior Am, which starts Monday in Tarzana.
“It’s busy, but being able to play abroad is a good experience,” Nishina said. “I’m enjoying it, and I hope it ties into my future career.”
Fellow second-round co-leader Kwanachanok Boonchan of Thailand finished third (213) with a 72. Second place went to Chinese Taipei’s Ping-Hua Hsieh (211), who matched the day’s lowest score (69).
Nine of the last 10 winners in this age group have been from Asia. Two of the last three are from Japan.
Carmel Valley’s Sydney Kroc debuted in the 13-14 division, finishing tied for 38th (228), while making her seventh straight appearance in the tourney overall.
“It’s a goal to come here every year,” Kroc said. “It’s just the competition since people are flying all over the world to be here.”
Along with improved driving distance over the years, Kroc has noticed how her mental game has matured.
“Before each shot now, I take a breadth and calm my nerves,” said Kroc, whose second-round 71 highlighted her tourney. “Then I try to put my best swing on it.”
Making her second Junior World appearance was fellow Carmel Valley resident Lillian Phee, who tied for 17th (221) with a closing 75, also up from the 11-12 bracket.
“I’ve really improved from last year,” said Phee, whose family recently joined the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. “Especially my approach shots. Last year, I couldn’t stop them and they just kept rolling. This year, it was the opposite.”
Kroc and Phee will both be freshmen next fall at Torrey Pines High School. The Falcons’ girls team placed second in the state last year.
In the boys 11-12 bracket at La Valle, Temecula’s Alan Yoda placed third (12-under 201), two shots off India’s Danish Verma (199). Yoda entered the day one shot back in a second-place tie behind Verma, who fired 65’s over each of the last two days.
Chula Vista’s Connor Szczechowicz slipped to a tie for 10th place (3-over 216) in the boys 13-14 division after entering the day in a deadlock for second, two shots back, at El Camino. He finished 11 shots behind Kartik Singh, of India, whose closing 66 brought a one-shot triumph.
In both the boys and girls 15-18 divisions at Torrey Pines, fog affected the schedule for a second day.
About half of each field needed to complete the second round, which was postponed Wednesday. Then fog delayed the shotgun start for about an hour in the morning.
The third round followed with a cut that trimmed to the field to 60 players each.
San Diego’s Ethan Elleraas, who entered the day two shots back in a ninth-place tie, shot a 69 to climb to second in boys play (2-under 214) behind Altaloma’s Logan Kim at Torrey Pines South.
On the girls’ side at Torrey Pines North, the title went to Hong Kong’s Ariana Lau, one of two runners-up last year. She prevailed by one shot (11-under 20) with a closing 69 after sharing the second-round lead.
Japan’s Uno Neda finished with a 66 to place second. Taking third (207) was Meg Tilma, of Wichita, Kan., the other second-round co-leader.
A year ago, Tilma placed 67th (227), 17 shots off the lead. After sharing the first-round lead (69) with six others, San Diego’s Apple (Jingyi) Cui fell out of contention with a 75 as part of the second-round groupings that were delayed a day.