CONNECTICUT, 4 Aug 2016, (HK Golfer News Wire) - Ding is the first foreign-born player to capture a Northern Junior crown.
Christine Shao, who held the solo lead for most of the final round, finished her round with a string of pars and posted seven over par 147, two groups ahead of Ding.
Shao watched anxiously as Virginie Ding played her third shot at the par 5 18th from the greenside bunker. It was a spectacular shot, stopping just a few feet from the hole, and once she sunk the short birdie putt it was time to head to the 10th tee for the playoff.
Ding took control of the playoff with another strong shot into the par 5, reaching the green in two and leaving herself with a twenty-five-foot eagle putt. Shao also played the hole well and gave herself a very makeable eight-foot birdie attempt. A two-putt birdie for Ding meant that Shao faced a must-make situation. Sadly her birdie try slid past the hole, and with that Virginie Ding became the 2016 Northern Junior champion.
At the closing ceremony, Ding expressed her gratitude to New Haven Country Club, but also thanked her support system. “First of all I want to thank my parents and my friends for supporting me this week. It’s just such an honor to win this tournament. I also want to congratulate Christine (Shao) for her great play and for showing such great sportsmanship out there today, especially in the playoff.”
Bobby Weise of New Jersey won the Boys Championship, which was tightly contested right out of the gates. Weise beat Angelo Giantsopoulos of Ontario in playoff.
This year marked the 15th playing of the Northern Junior Championship, an internationally recognized junior championship held each year in the state of Connecticut. The 2016 field featured players from 24 different states, provinces, and countries who had not reached their 19th birthday or entered college by August 3rd.