USA Places Second at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup
Finish three strokes behind champion Argentina

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States finished second behind tournament champion Argentina at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL. The Americans - who shared the third-round lead with Argentina - finished three shots back.

The Argentineans - who led or shared the lead all four rounds of the tournament - had their best round of the tournament at 8-under par 205 to pull away from third-round co-leader United States. Both Tomas Cocha (67) and Leandro Marelli (66) posted their best days of the tournament to lead Argentina in the final round. Cocho carded a double-bogey and two bogeys but eight birdies while Marelli had five birdies to one bogey. Cocho’s effort was good enough to move him into second individually (-9) while Marelli tied for eighth (-4).

The United States dug themselves into an early hole and were 3-over through for four holes. The Americans would close the gap after recording seven birdies to no bogeys from holes 5-12. Argentina, however, would play the final five holes at 5-under to put the championship away.

“I told them that I couldn’t have been any more pleased with the group of guys we had together this week,” said USA Coach Doug Hamilton. “The experience was more than I expected it to be and I expected a lot. It was great week all in all and it just came down to the fact that we didn’t play well enough on the last day of the tournament.”

England recorded its best round of the tournament - 8-under 213 - to move within one shot of the United States at 18-under. Korea (-13) moved up to fourth and was followed by Mexico (-12), Japan (-10) and South Africa (-6). Chinese Taipei and Sweden tied for eighth at 5-under while Australia (-3), Portugal (-1), Canada (+18), Norway (+22) and Uruguay (+35) round out the final standings.

Kyoung-Hoon Lee of Korea claimed the Maruyama Cup as individual champion after firing 65 to at 14-under. Cocha, Tomohiro Umeyama of Japan and Mexico’s Santiago Gavino tied for second five-shots back. England’s Max Smith placed fifth at 7-under.

Team Results
1.    Argentina    208-208-209-205=830 (-22)
2.    USA    211-207-207-208=833 (-19)
3.    England    211-209-209-205=834 (-18)
4.    Korea    217-205-209-208=839 (-13)
5.    Mexico    208-213-216-203=840 (-12)
6.    Japan    215-210-207-210=842 (-10)
7.    South Africa    219-218-204-205=846 (-6)
T8.    Chinese Taipei    211-206-214-216=847 (-5)
T8.    Sweden    215-217-209-206=847 (-5)
10.    Australia    216-209-211-213=849 (-3)
11.    Portugal    215-215-204-217=851 (-1)
12.    Canada    226-227-202-215=655 (+18)
13.    Norway    218-225-216-215=874 (+22)
14.    Uruguay    228-224-216-219=887 (+35)

Top 10 and USA Individual Results
1.    Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Korea    71-68-66-65=270 (-14)
T2.    Tomas Cocha, Argentina    71-68-69-67=275 (-9)
T2.    Tomohiro Umeyama, Japan    71-68-67-69=275 (-9)
T2.    Santiago Gavino, Mexico    66-68-72-69=275 (-9)
5.    Max Smith, England    71-71-68-67=277 (-7) 6.    Cameron Smith, Australia    71-68-69-70=278 (-6)
7.    Roberto Ballesteros, Mexico    70-71-71-67=279 (-5)
T8.    Chi-Hsien Hsieh, Chinese Taipei    74-67-69-70=280 (-4)
T8.    Jeffrey Kang, USA    71-71-69-69=280 (-4)
T8.    Joakim Lagergren, Sweden    71-72-70-67=280 (-4)
T8.    Leandro Marelli, Argentina    67-75-72-66=280 (-4)
T8.    T.J. Vogel, USA    73-66-70-71=280 (-4)
T14.    Evan Beck, USA    68-70-71-73=282 (-2)
T23.    Brinson Paolini, USA    72-76-68-68=284 (E)

Argentina, USA Tied After Third Round at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup
Americans shoot 6-under to catch first and second round leader

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States shot 6-under par to catch Argentina for first place at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL. Argentina has either led or shared the tournament lead thru the first three rounds. The tournament was suspended for one hour and 57 minutes after the day’s final group teed off on the 10th hole.

The Americans posted their first balanced team round with all four players at par or better and all three counters in red numbers. Brinson Paolini led the U.S. charge at 3-under while Jeffrey Kang was 2-under and T.J. Vogel went 1-under. Kang produced an up and down round with five birdies and three bogeys while Paolini and Vogel had one bogey each. Paolini’s birdie on followed by Vogel’s up-and-down for par allowed the U.S. to catch Argentina at 14-under for the tournament.

“The biggest factor to success in team golf is great balance and I think we showed that we have that today,” said USA Coach Doug Hamilton. “I felt like Brinson (Paolini) was going to have a coming out party today. I told him that and sure enough he did. I’m very happy for him and Jeffrey (Kang) to both get their feet under them and now all four of the guys are taking a lot of confidence into the last round tomorrow. Being tied for the lead, we need them all to play well, be involved and have the potential to be a counter.”

Early in the round it appeared that Argentina would extend its lead over the field after posting two birdies on the second hole but only managed two more birdies versus two bogeys on the front nine. Solid play on the back nine would move the team to 4-under for the round and 14-under for the tournament. Tomas Cocha produced his second-straight round in the 60s and was matched at 69 by Andres Schombaum. Jorge Fernandez Valdes was Argentina’s third counter at even par.

Individually, Kyoung-Hoon Lee of Korea fired 66 to move into first-place at 8-under. Mexico’s Santiago Gavino - the leader after both the first and second rounds - and Tomohiro Umeyama of Japan are one shot back tied for second. Cocha and Australia’s Cameron Smith (-5) are tied for fourth. Choi Albin of Canada posted the low score of the tournament with 63.

“The first couple of rounds I wanted to play well so badly I tried to force some things and today I came out with the mindset of being really relaxed and really patient and letting the round come to me instead of me trying to force things,” said Paolini. “It really worked and I played well.”

Team Results
T1.    Argentina    208-208-209=625 (-14)
T1.    USA    211-207-207=625 (-14)
3.    England    211-209-209=629 (-10)
T4.    Chinese Taipei    211-206-214=631 (-8)
T4.    Korea    217-205-209=631 (-8)
6.    Japan    215-210-207=632 (-7)
7.    Portugal    215-215-204=634 (-5)
8.    Australia    216-209-211=636 (-3)
9.    Mexico    208-213-216=637 (-2)
T10.    South Africa    219-218-204=641 (+2)
T10.    Sweden    215-217-209=641 (+2)
12.    Canada    226-227-202=655 (+16)
13.    Norway    218-225-216=659 (+20)
14.    Uruguay    228-224-216=668 (+29)

Top 10 and USA Individual Results
1.    Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Korea    71-68-66=205 (-8)
T2.    Santiago Gavino, Mexico    66-68-72=206 (-7)
T2.    Tomohiro Umeyama, Japan    71-68-67=206 (-7)
T4.    Tomas Cocha, Argentina    71-68-69=208 (-5)
T4.    Cameron Smith, Australia    71-68-69=208 (-5)
T6.    Evan Beck, USA    68-70-71=209 (-4)
T6.    T.J. Vogel, USA    73-66-70=209 (-4)
T8.    Chi-Hsien Hsieh, Chinese Taipei    74-67-69=210 (-3)
T8.    Luke Humphries, Australia    70-68-72=210 (-3)
T8.    Max Smith, England    71-71-68=210 (-3)
T11.    Jeffrey Kang, USA    71-71-69=211 (-2)
T31.    Brinson Paolini, USA    72-76-68=216 (+3)

USA Stays in Third after Round Two at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup
Moves to within two shots of team lead

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United Stated remained in third place following the second round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL. Powered by T.J. Vogel’s 5-under 66, the Americans moved to within two shots of leader Argentina with a two-round total of 8-under 418.

Team USA made five birdies on the front nine - three by Vogel and two by Evan Beck - but three of bogeys left them at 2-under at the turn. The U.S. moved to 3-under after a Beck birdie on No. 11 but he double-bogeyed No. 12. All three American counters birdied the par 5 No. 15 and Vogel picked up two more birdies to move the Americans to 6-under for the day and trim Argentina’s lead to two strokes.

“I think that in the case of T.J. (Vogel), he kind of picked up where he left off yesterday. He had a really solid ball-striking round on the back nine yesterday and started off that same way today. Jeffrey (Kang) was very solid today. He had 13-straight pars before he made his first bogey. He just wasn’t making his putts but he gave himself a lot of opportunities. Evan (Beck) had a little more of an up-and-down round than he had yesterday, but bounced back for a big birdie on No. 15. All in all, those three guys were really solid. Brinson (Paolini) is still a little tentative, but he hit a couple of solid shots down the stretch and picked up a birdie. Hopefully he has a good feel for tomorrow.”

Vogel’s 66 was the best score of the day and tied for top mark in the tournament. He birdied the third hole but gave it back with a bogey on the next hole. However, he birdied the seventh and eighth to make the turn at 2-under. He birdied three of the final four holes to move to 5-under.

“I hit it really solid every hole off the tee and hit all the fairways and all the greens,” said Vogel. “I did what I supposed to and birdied all of the par 5s. I didn’t have a great putting day but I made enough putts to make a good score. I wanted to go low because I felt that was my job and I kind of let my team down yesterday with a 73."

Beck currently sits tied for second place - four shots back of Mexico’s Santiago Gavino - and is one of only three players to record under par rounds both days of the tournament. Vogel is one shot back in a six-way tie for fourth.

Team Results
1.    Argentina    208-208=416 (-10)
2.    Chinese Taipei    211-206=417 (-9)
3.    USA    211-207=418 (-8)
4.    England    211-209=420 (-6)
5.    Mexico    208-213=421 (-5)
6.    Korea    217-205=422 (-4)
T7.    Australia    216-209=425 (-1)
T7.    Japan    215-210=425 (-1)
9.    Portugal    215-215=430 (+4)
10.    Sweden    215-217=432 (+6)
11.    South Africa    219-218=437 (+11)
12.    Norway    218-225=443 (+17)
13.    Uruguay    228-224=452 (+26)
14.    Canada    226-227=453 (+27)

Top 10 and USA Individual Results
1.    Santiago Gavino, Mexico    66-68=134 (-8)
T2.    Evan Beck, USA    68-70=138 (-4)
T2.    Luke Humphries, Australia    70-68=138 (-4)
T4.    Tomas Cocha, Argentina    71-68=139 (-3)
T4.    Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Korea    71-68=139 (-3)
T4.    Cameron Smith, Australia    71-68=139 (-3)
T4.    Tao Huang, Chinese Taipei    67-72=139 (-3)
T4.    Tomohiro Umeyama, Japan    71-68=139 (-3)
T4.    T.J. Vogel, USA    73-66=139 (-3)
10.    Jorge Fernandez Valdes, Argentina    70-70=140 (-2)
T16.    Jeffrey Kang, USA    71-71=142 (E)
T37.    Brinson Paolini, USA    72-76=138 (+6)

USA Tied for Third after Opening Round at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup
Beck tied for fourth individually

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States fired an opening round 2-under-par 211 to sit in a tie for third place at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL. The Americans trail co-leaders Argentina and Mexico by three shots. Individually, Evan Beck is two shots out of first place after carding 3-under 68 and is currently in for fourth place.

The Americans appeared to get off to a quick start when Beck and Paolini both birdied the first hole, but Kang followed with bogey for 1-under as a team. A Paolini triple-bogey on three and bogey on four dropped the U.S. to 2-over before Kang and Beck birdies on the fifth moved the team back to even. The team moved to 2-under over the next three holes but struggled after the turn falling back to over par before a late rally rebounded back to 2-under.

“Well, I think first of all that Evan (Beck) got off to a good start, whereas even though Brinson (Paolini) birdied his first hole, Brinson, T.J. (Vogel) and Jeffrey (Kang) all started the round a little tentative and it took them a little while to kind of get into the groove and relax,” said Team USA Head Coach Doug Hamilton. “We didn’t convert a lot of opportunities we had today. Early in the round they were trying to guide a lot of shots so they didn’t give themselves very many opportunities for good looks at birdies while on the back nine we had several opportunities but didn’t convert them because we didn’t chip well or hit a very good putt.”

In addition to his birdie on the opening hole, Beck birdied Nos. 5 and 8 to make the turn at 3-under. He moved to 4-under after birdie on the 12th, but gave the shot back on the next hole with his only bogey on the round. He trails tournament leader Santiago Gavino of Mexico by two shots

“I birdied the first hole, made a 25-footer,” said Beck. “My putting was good for about nine holes, then I kind of lost a little confidence in my alignment. I hit my driver really well. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot more fairways than the practice round. We’ll keep it up and get better tomorrow and the rest of the week.”

Team Results
T1.    Argentina    208 (-5)
T1.    Mexico    208 (-5)
T3.    Chinese Taipei    211 (-2)
T3.    England    211 (-2)
T3.    United States    211 (-2)
T6.    Japan    215 (+2)
T6.    Portugal    215 (+2)
T6.    Sweden    215 (+2)
9.    Australia    216 (+3)
10.    Korea    217 (+4)
11.    Norway    218 (+5)
12.    South Africa    219 (+6)
13.    Canada    226 (+13)
14.    Uruguay    228 (+15)

Top 10 and USA Individual Results
1.    Santiago Gavino, Mexico    32-34=66 (-5)
T2.    Tao Huang, Chinese Taipei    34-33=67 (-4)
T2.    Leandro Marelli, Argentina    34-33=67 (-4)
T4.    Evan Beck, USA    32-36=68 (-3)
T4.    Thomas Lewis, England    33-35=68 (-3)
T6.    Roberto Ballesteros, Mexico    34-36=70 (-1)
T6.    Jorge Fernandez Valdes, Argentina    33-37=70 (-1)
T6.    Luke Humphries, Australia    34-36=70 (-1)
T9.    Jeffrey Kang, USA    35-36=71 (E)
T9.    11 tied at 71
T20.    Brinson Paolini, USA    36-36=72 (+1)
T29.    T.J. Vogel, USA    36-37=73 (+2)    

Tee Times Set for First Round at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup