by Bill Turner
Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn was getting used to talking to reporters Sunday afternoon on the champions patio at Roanoke Country Club. The 16-year old winner of the 28th annual Scott Robertson Memorial may have had challenges expressing her thoughts in English, but she definitely had little trouble showing her golfing talent on the RCC layout on her way to blistering the field with a 16-under 197 total that captured the elite girls 15-18 title. It was the lowest 3-day total in tournament history.
Her score toppled the previous tournament low of 206 set in 1999 by Miriam Nagl. It gets her name on the Robertson trophy beside the likes of current LPGA players Aree Song, Paula Creamer and Kristy McPherson.
Jutanugarn’s margin of victory was 13 shots under the runner-up who was quite familiar to the new champion; it was her younger sister, Ariya, who was ranked higher coming into the tournament.
“My putting and my approach, they were real good this week,” Moriya said after accepting the winner’s trophy. “It was so fun and I do so good,” she said with a big smile.
The sisters played together in the final threesome Sunday. “It was fun playing with sister,” Ariya added. Now both girls will try to qualify for a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open. “Ariya will probably make U.S. Open,” Moriya said. ” But, that would be fine . . . I will be her caddy.”
In the Robertson boys 15-18, James Yoon of Bradenton,FL carded a final-round 68 to hold off Blacksburg’s Jake Mondy by two shots to win the championship. Second-round leader Kyle Kochevar finished third.
In the girls and boys 14-under division, Megan Khang and Daniel Jaramillo, respectively, took home the crowns.
