by Al Campbell
MONTREAL, Canada, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Team captured its fourth consecutive Junior Presidents Cup on Tuesday, dominating the singles matches to beat the International Team 15-9 in Quebec.
With the International Team trailing 6.5 points to 5.5 points going into the final day, the Americans proved too strong in the match-play format, securing at least a half point or more in 11 of the 12 singles matches to retain the title.
The two-day tournament on the Blue Course at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac debuted in 2017 and is considered a prelude to the Presidents Cup that tees off Thursday at Royal Montreal. The junior version features 12 American amateurs, all 18-years-old or younger, competing against their international counterparts from around the world, excluding Europe.
"It was pretty much even going into the singles today," said Charley Hoffman, the PGA Tour veteran who captained the U.S. Team. "The scores were all over the place in the morning but we were able to squeak out a few wins and it was fun to be a part of that. I'm so proud of the boys. They overcame some struggles from yesterday and they learned from it and that's all you can ask for. They came out today and played some pretty darn good golf."
Chinese amateurs proved prominent in the two-day tournament as Yu Hanjie battled back to tie Tyler Mawhinney and halve their singles match. Mawhinney, a 16-year-old who won the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship last month, was two up through 15 holes until Yu, an 18-year-old from Beijing, won the 16th and final hole to deadlock the match and earn the half point.
Chang Xihuan, another Beijinger, pushed Blades Brown to the limit as the Nashville teen, ranked No. 1 by the American Junior Golf Association, won the final hole with a par as Chang made bogey five, to win one up.
Gu Liangliang, a 15-year-old prodigy, held even with Jackson Byrd through eight holes but the big-hitting American, the son of PGA Tour pro Jonathan Byrd, proved too much for the teenager from Nantong, Jiangsu province, winning their match 4&3.
American Logan Reilly defeated Colombian Samuel Gonzalez 6&5 to become the only player in the tournament to earn three points from the three sessions - the four-ball, foursomes and singles matches.
"It was the most fun week I've ever had," said Reilly, a 17-year-old from Virginia. "Being out here with the guys and representing the U.S. was just unreal. Being able to go undefeated during the week just makes you feel so good. You never get to do this as a team and to win in a different country it is something special for sure."
Nguyen Anh Minh was the top International as the Vietnamese won his singles match one up against Miles Russell to get his second point of the tournament. Canadian Antoine Jasmin held steady in front of his home fans as the Quebec native got a victory in the four-ball and halved his singles match against Pennson Badgett to claim 1.5 points.
"This week was basically a home game for me," said Jasmin who had victory in his grasp until making a bogey five on the final hole as Badgett answered with par to halve their match. "So many people were counting on me and I like that pressure. I had lots of family and friends here to support me and I'm very grateful for this event. You don't get a lot of opportunities like this to play in your home nation and it's an honor to represent Canada. I've been working so hard for this moment. This was my dream, and I achieved that dream."
The fifth Junior Presidents Cup will be held in Chicago in 2026. ■
