JUNIOR GOLF: Canadian kid follows in Tiger's footsteps

By MARWAN RAZOUK - Staff Writer | Friday, July 18, 2008 10:59 PM PDT ∞

LA JOLLA ---- Torrey Pines Golf Course has hosted some of the most amazing golf played around the world this summer.

Tiger Woods' astonishing playoff victory on a bad knee at the U.S. Open in June elevated the already-popular course to legendary status.

The Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, an event Woods and several other professionals won as kids, did not disappoint, producing a nail-biting and exciting finish in the boys 15-17 division at Torrey Pines South.

Eugene Wong overcame a two-stroke deficit with two holes remaining, sinking a 10-foot putt on No. 18 to finish at 4-under-par 284 and claim the championship by one stroke.

"It means a lot, winning junior world and putting my name on the trophy alongside Tiger and Phil (Mickelson)," said Wong, a North Vancouver, British Columbia native. "The 10-footer felt like it was a 50-footer."

Wong, a 17-year old who will play golf at the University of Oregon, was one stroke back heading into the final round but pulled to one ahead before finding himself with only an outside shot heading to the 17th hole.

But birdies on the final two holes, coupled with a bogey by second-place finisher Daniel Nesbit on the final hole, gave the Wong the opportunity to putt for the championship.

He made it count.

"My putting really helped me today," said Wong, who also won the British Columbia Junior Boys Championships a week ago. "I don't think I could have won without that."

No North County boys were in contention, but a few had solid finishes.

Rancho Buena Vista High senior Sejun Yoon shot a disappointing final round of 83 to finish at 17 over, but he played well in the first three rounds, entering only seven strokes off the lead.

"This year was tough," Yoon said about the post-U.S. Open course conditions. "The rough was a lot thicker and the greens were a little faster."

La Costa Canyon's Steven Kearney was the top North County finisher at 13 over, good for 18th place. Carlsbad's Jordan Epstein finished at 12 over and Allan Jun of Oceanside was 20 over.

The girls 15-17 division, held at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, produced a similar result for one North County girl. Encinitas' Danielle Frasier, a junior-to-be at La Costa Canyon, finished in second place for the second consecutive year, falling to Patcharajutar Kongraphan of Thailand by three strokes.

"I was hitting the ball really well this week," she said. "But I didn't capitalize on my putting."

Ahmed Ali, an 8-year old from Rancho Bernardo, produced the top North County result for all divisions, winning the boys 7-8 division at Pine Glen Course at the Sycuan Resort.

Contact staff writer Marwan Razouk at mrazouk@nctimes.com.