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USA Places Second at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL
Yarik Merkulov Tied for fourth individually
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States finished second at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL at Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. Yarik Merkulov tied for fourth individually at 8-under. Japan won the team title while Yosuke Asaji of Japan, Canada’s Corey Conners and Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard tied for medalist honors at 10-under 274.
Team USA entered the round in second place, six shots behind Japan. The Americans struggled out of the gate, but rallied to play the front nine at 3-over. Strong performances by Canada, Denmark and Thailand allowed them to pass the United States late in the round. However, two late birdies by Oliver Schniederjans and a pair of eagles by Cameron Wilson allowed the U.S. to move into a four-way tie at 15-under with Merkulov on 18 putting for birdie.
“At the time I was just thinking it was any old putt just to close the round,” said Merkulov. “Coach Mahanic came up and told me it was a big putt. I was like ‘all right, let’s focus on this. Let’s make sure I get a good stroke on it.’ If it doesn’t go at least I can hang my hat saying I at least made a good stroke. When he told me that it was big putt I was actually really excited. I was pumped. This is big. It will mean something. That got me focused more.”
Merkulov was 2-under - and in middle of a bogey-free round - when sizing up his downhill 15-footer. His ball was at the back of the green with a right-to-left break. Merkulov committed to a line and started his putt cup right of the hole. His putt went in dead center to move back to 3-under individually and the United States 16-under as a team and back in sole possession of second place.
“The guys played very hard from start to finish,” said USA Head Coach Matt Mahanic. “We just weren’t able to execute the shots and pull it off. All in all, it was a fantastic week. Today just didn’t work out how we wanted. The guys did a great job of battling back. Oliver, Cameron, Yarik was steady; they did a great job of battling back. When you dig yourself such a big hole it’s tough to be able to make up ground.”
Team Results
1. Japan 206-205-205-206=822 (-30)
2. United States 202-209-211-214=836 (-16)
T3. Canada 216-212-206-203=837 (-15)
T3. Denmark 212-212-207-206=837 (-15)
T3. Thailand 205-209-213-210=837 (-15)
6. Argentina 206-215-206-217=844 (-8)
7. South Africa 211-214-212-209=846 (-6)
8. Australia 219-212-205-212=848 (-2)
9. India 205-223-211-213=852 (E)
10. Germany 221-215-215-213=864 (+12)
11. Columbia 216-219-221-220=876 (+24)
12. Guatemala 230-228-220-230+908 (+56)
Top 10 and USA Individual Results
T1. Yosuke Asaji, JPN 69-73-67-65=274 (-10)
T1. Corey Conners, CAN 73-70-65-66=274 (-10)
T1. Lucas Bjerregaard, DEN 69-68-67-70=274 (-10)
T4. Yarik Merkulov, USA 69-70-69-68=276 (-8)
T4. Taihei Sato, JPN 69-69-69-69=276 (-8)
T6. Brandon Stone, RSA 71-68-70-69=278 (-6)
T6. Genzo Tokimatsu, JPN 71-63-71-73=278 (-6)
T8. Thomas Sorensen, DEN 71-71-70-67=279 (-5)
T8. Poom Saksansin, THA 68-73-68-70=279 (-5)
T8. Atiwit Janewattananond, THA 68-66-72-73=279 (-5)
T11. Bobby Wyatt, USA 67-67-69-77=280 (-4)
T16. Cameron Wilson, USA 66-72-73-71=282 (-2)
T34. Oliver Schniederjans, USA 70-73-74-75=292 (+8)
USA falls to Second after Third Round at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL
Wyatt maintains tie for individual lead
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States fell to second place - six-strokes behind tournament leader Japan - after the third round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL at Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. American Bobby Wyatt shot 2-under 69 to stay tied for the individual lead with Argentina’s Jorge Fernandez Valdez at 10-under for the tournament.
Japan and the United States were still tied after both teams made the turn when each side was at 2-under. Japan, however, would play the back nine at 6-under while the USA could only muster even par.
“We got off to a good start,” said United States Coach Matt Mahanic, “we just didn’t make the birdies we needed to make on the back nine to keep pace with Japan and the amount of birdies they made. We deviated from our game plan a little bit and that cost us. Everything was execution today. We just couldn’t get the golf ball in the hole. Tomorrow that’s going to change. We’re going to come out tomorrow and play well. All the putts that haven’t dropped, all the bad bounces and things like that that have accumulated a bit the past three days, those are going to come out and it’s going to be a good day for America tomorrow.”
The Americans appeared that they might hold the Japanese lead to five shots after Wyatt and Yaroslav Merkoluv each shot 69 for the Americans. Wyatt got off to a hot start with birdies on two of his first three holes. He would drop back to even after bogeys on Nos. 5 and 8. His up-and-down round continued with four more birdies and two more bogeys on the back nine. Merkulov was 2-under early but went back to even after back-to-back bogeys at 13 and 14. He responded with birdie at two of his next three holes. Oliver Schniederjans was 1-under through 17 but posted nine on the par 5 18th and the U.S. counted Cameron Wilson’s score of 73.
“I started off very well,” said Wyatt of his round. “I was 2-under through three holes then dropped shots at (holes) five and eight and didn’t birdie the easy par 5 seventh. That was disappointing. That got me back to even at the turn. Then I birded 10 and 11 and missed a few opportunities at 12 and 13. Then I bogeyed 14 but was able to birdie two of my last four, which was nice to finish. I ended up scoring 2-under which was a little disappointing with the way I hit the ball. I hope I can score better tomorrow.”
Team Results
1. Japan 206-205-205=616 (-23)
2. United States 202-209-211=622 (-17)
T3. Argentina 206-215-206=627 (-12)
T3. Thailand 205-209-213=627 (-12)
5. Denmark 212-212-207=631 (-8)
6. Canada 216-212-206=634 (-5)
7. Australia 219-212-205=636 (-3)
8. South Africa 211-214-212=637 (-2)
9. India 205-223-211=639 (E)
10. Germany 221-215-215=651 (+12)
11. Colombia 216-219-221=656 (+17)
12. Guatemala 230-228-220=678 (+39)
Top 10 and USA Individual Results
T1. Jorge Fernandez Valdes, ARG 67-70-66=203 (-10)
T1. Bobby Wyatt, USA 67-67-69=203 (-10)
3. Lucas Bjerregarrd, DEN 69-68-67=204 (-9)
4. Genzo Tokimatsu, JPN 71-63-71=205 (-8)
5. Atiwit Janewattananond, THA 68-66-72=206 (-7)
6. Taihei Sato, JPN 69-69-69=207 (-6)
T7. Corey Conners, CAN 73-70-65=208 (-5)
T7. Yaroslav Merkulov, USA 69-70-69=208 (-5)
T9. Yosuke Asaji, JPN 69-73-67=209 (-4)
T9. Poom Saksansin, THA 68-73-68=209 (-4)
T9. Brandon Stone, RSA 71-68-70=209 (-4)
T13. Cameron Wilson, USA 66-72-73=211 (-2)
T28. Oliver Schniederjans, USA 70-73-74=217 (+4)
Japan and USA tied for lead at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL
Bobby Wyatt in three-way tie for first
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Japan and the United States are tied atop the leaderboard following the second round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL at Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. Bobby Wyatt is part of a three-way to for first place with Japan’s Genzo Tokimatsu and Atiwit Janewattananond of Thailand at 8-under 134.
The Americans, who entered the day three shots clear of the field, posted a second-round score of 4-under. Team USA’s Bobby Wyatt again shot 67 in the second round to move up one spot into the tie for first. First-round leader Cameron Wilson dropped five spots into a tie with Sato at 4-under after shooting 72. Yaroslav Merkulov went under par for the second consecutive round - 1-under 70 - to move up from 10th to a tie for eighth at 3-under for the tournament. Oliver Schniederjans did not count for the United States after carding 73.
“I actually think we played just about as good as we did yesterday given the pin placements, the soggy conditions - there was no roll - and the way wind was blowing today - it was blowing in many different directions” said USA Coach Matt Mahanic. “It wasn’t a constant wind and it was very tough to judge. I thought the guys handled themselves very well. Bobby (Wyatt) to do what he did again today, what he did yesterday, it’s very impressive. We’re going to need two more of those out of him. Yarik (Yaroslav Merkulov), that was fantastic. Two-over through two and posted 1-under for us - he really got his head right. Mentally he stayed in it for 18 holes, which was big for him, to stay in it after a bad start. Cameron (Wilson) ran into a little bit of a rough spell but he’s going to be there tomorrow. Same with Oliver (Schniederjans). Those guys are too good of players to not bounce back and post something under par tomorrow.”
Wyatt did not have a birdie until the par-3 sixth hole to move back to even after an early bogey. He would collect four more birdies for the day to post his second round of 67 in as many days. One key to Wyatt’s performance was playing the par 3 holes at 3-under for the round.
“At first I wasn’t hitting it very well and I kind of scrambled around and kept it okay,” said Wyatt. “Then I found my swing a little bit. I thought about when I got on the range this morning and started hitting it better. I gave myself some opportunities and dropped a few of them. I was 1-over through four or five holes then I had a couple of birdies closing out the front nine. Then I headed to the back and just kept it going. I had probably four, five, six good birdie opportunities and I was able to capitalize on three of them.”
Team Results
T1. Japan 206-205=411 (-15)
T1. United States 202-209=411 (-15)
3. Thailand 205-209=414 (-12)
4. Argentina 206-215=421 (-5)
5. Denmark 212-212=424 (-2)
6. South Africa 211-214=425 (-1)
T7. Canada 216-212=428 (+2)
T7. India 205-223=428 (+2)
9. Australia 219-212=431 (+5)
10. Colombia 216-219=435 (+9)
11. Germany 221-215=436 (+10)
12. Guatemala 230-228=458 (+32)
Top 10 and USA Individual Results
T1. Genzo Tokimatsu, JPN 71-63=134 (-8)
T1. Atiwit Janewattananond, THA 68-66=134 (-8)
T1. Bobby Wyatt, USA 67-67=134 (-8)
T4. Lucas Bjerregaard, DEN 69-68=137 (-5)
T4. Jorge Fernandez Valdes, ARG 67-70=137 (-5)
T6. Taihei Sato, JPN 69-69=138 (-4)
T6. Cameron Wilson, USA 66-72=138 (-4)
T8. Brandon Stone, RSA 71-68=139 (-3)
T8. Rattanon Wannasrichan, THA 69-60=139 (-3)
T8. Yaroslav Merkulov, USA 69-70=139 (-3)
T8. Drikus Bryuns, RSA 67-72=139 (-3)
T19. Oliver Schniederjans, USA 70-73=143 (+1)
USA in First after United States in First at TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL
Cameron Wilson leads individually
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States fired 11-under 202 to stand atop the leader board following the opening round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL at Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. Team USA’s Cameron Wilson leads individually after posting 5-under 66.
The United States got off to a slow start, but made the turn with Bobby Wyatt sitting at 3-under and Yarik Merkulov at 1-under. The Americans heated up on the back nine with all four players shooting under par on the back and for the round. Wilson - who recovered from a 2-over after four holes start - posted 31 on the back nine - including a stretch of eagle-birdie-birdie on Nos. 15-17 - to move from even par to 5-under. Wyatt missed a short par putt on No. 18 to fall to a tie for second overall at 4-under 67. Yaruslav Merkulov sits in a seven-way tie for tenth at 2-under 69 while Oliver Schniederjans shot 70.
“I think that what they (the U.S. team) did that was most impressive is that they stuck with the game plan and executed shots,” said USA coach Matt Mahanic. “They didn’t go for anything that they didn’t need to, played good golf and took advantage of the course when they were able. Cameron Wilson’s round was spectacular given he was 2-over early in his round and fought back to post 66. Bobby (Wyatt) played very solid and didn’t have any bogeys until the 18th hole. Yarik (Merkoluv) played fantastic, like a rock back there. Ollie (Oliver Schniederjans) birdied three of the last four. I’m really excited going forward the next three days.”
After his slow start Wilson moved back to even after birdies on the sixth and eighth holes. Four pars would follow a birdie at No. 10 before his strong finish.
“I hit a couple of loose shots on the front nine,” said individual leader Cameron Wilson of the United States. “Then I made a couple of birdies to get it back to even. The back nine I played really well. The beginning of the back nine I lipped out a lot of birdie putts. Then I finished really strong - an eagle and two birdies at the very end of my round.”
Team Results
1. United States 202 (-11)
T2. India 205 (-8)
T2. Thailand 205 (-8)
T4. Argentina 206 (-7)
T4. Japan 206 (-7)
6. South Africa 211 (-2)
7. Denmark 212 (-1)
T8. Canada 216 (+3)
T8. Colombia 216 (+3)
10. Australia 219 (+6)
11. Germany 221 (+8)
12. Guatemala 230 (+17)
Top 10 and USA Individual Results
1. Cameron Wilson, USA 35-31=66 (-5)
T2. Jorge Fernandez Valdes, ARG 33-34=67 (-4)
T2. Bobby Wyatt, USA 32-35=67 (-4)
T2. Drykus Bryuns, RSA 35-32=67 (-4)
T5. Daijiro Izumida, JPN 35-33=68 (-3)
T5. Atiwit Janewattananond, THA 35-33=68 (-3)
T5. Poom Saksansin, THA 35-33=68 (-3)
T5. Ashber Saini, IND 34-34=68 (-3)
T5. Chikkarangappa Seenappa, IND 33-35=68 (-3)
T10. Seven players tied at 2-under 69
T10. Yarik Merkulov, USA 34-35=69 (-2)
T17. Oliver Schniederjans, USA 36-34=70 (-1)
USA Paired with Denmark/Thailand for Opening Round of TOYOTA Junior World Cup supported by JAL
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – The United States has been paired with Denmark and Thailand for the opening round of the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 supported by JAL. The event will be played for the sixth-consecutive year at the 6,942-yard, par 71 Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course.
Bobby Wyatt will be the first U.S. player to take the course when he tees off at 8:40 am with Denmark’s Thomas Sorensen and Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand. Wyatt will be followed by Yarik Merkulov at 8:50 and Cameron Wilson at 9:00. Oliver Schniederjans will anchor the American line-up with a start time of 9:10 am.
“We’re very excited,” said Team USA Head Coach Matt Mahanic. “We had a good practice round today. I think the course sets up for everyone’s game and more importantly the players are very excited to play the golf course. I think it’s a course that we can score on and we are really looking forward to the next four days of golf.”
TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010
supported by JAL
United States Opening Round Tee Times
Tuesday, June 15
8:40 am
Thomas Sorensen, Denmark
Rattanon Wannasrichan, Thailand
Bobby Wyatt, United States
8:50 am
Mads Sogaard, Denmark
Korntawach Julamool, Thailand
Yarik Merkulov, United States
9:00 am
Patrick Winther, Denmark
Atiwit Janewattananond, Thailand
Cameron Wilson, United States
9:10 am
Lucas Bjerregaard, Denmark
Poom Saksansin, Thailand
Oliver Schniederjans, United States
Team USA to Compete in TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup
United States aims for first team title since 2005
CHICAGO – Golfers Yarik Merkulov, Oliver Schniederjans, Cameron Wilson and Bobby Wyatt and head coach Matt Mahanic will represent the United States beginning Tuesday at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup supported by JAL at Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course. Team USA - which is sponsored by the Acushnet Company - has won the tournament five times since its inception in 1992 but have failed to claim the team title since 2005.
Since taking over the Huntingdon program three years ago, Mahanic has led the Hawks to a ranking within the top-five nationally every week, including a 30-week stay atop coaches poll during the 2008-09 season. During his tenure, Mahanic has coached the Hawks in 25 events, guiding them to victory in 12 of those, including a team championship in his first event as head coach. He has also helped Huntingdon to a pair of top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Last season, Mahanic was named the Division III Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year, after leading Huntingdon to seven wins in 10 regular season tournaments. The Hawks finished runner-up in two events and third in the other, while finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships. In his first season, Mahanic and the Hawks won three times in 10 events and finished eighth at the NCAA Championships.
Merkulov, who has signed with Duke University, was a 2009 Rolex Jr. first team All-America choice and is tabbed third in the Polo Golf Rankings and sixth in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Ratings (third in his class). Merkulov was the runner-up at the 2009 Junior PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, one of his five top 20 finishes this year at AJGA events. In his last three tournaments, Merkulov had two top five finishes. He was also a member of the 2009 Canon Cup, compiling a 3-0-1 record at the event. Perhaps most impressive was Merkulov’s win at the 87th New York State Amateur, tying for the youngest champion in tournament history at 17-years-old. The senior has been tabbed All-Greater Rochester three times and an All-State selection four times. He was the Section V champion and twice a runner-up in the state championship. Merkulov has also won the New York State Junior Amateur twice along with the New York State Boy’s Amateur in 2006.
Schniederjans is No. 6 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings. He won the Jones Cup Junior Invitational in December and has claimed top five finishes at the U.S. Junior, The Junior PLAYERS Championship, The PING Invitational and the HP Boys Championship. He was named the Georgia State Golf Association Junior Player of the Year after winning the Georgia Junior, Georgia PGA Junior and Georgia Public Links over the summer. Schniederjans has verbally committed to play golf at Georgia Tech.
Wilson, who signed a letter-of-intent with Stanford, was named an American Junior Golf Association All-American and was picked as a member of the U.S. Challenge Cup and AJGA Canon Cup Teams. Wilson advanced to the Round of 8 in the 2009 USGA Junior Amateur at Trump National Golf Club, and posted first place finishes in the 2009 MGA Met Amateur, the 2009 AJGA Nationwide Open at the Ohio State Scarlet Course and the 2009 Carter Cup at Baltusrol Golf Club. He was also advanced to the Round of 32 in the USGA Men’s Amateur.
Wyatt, who has signed with the University of Alabama, is rated No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin junior index for the class of 2010 and No. 1 in the Polo Golf Rankings for his class. Wyatt won the Junior Players Championship at Sawgrass this year and won medalist honors in nine of the 11 events he played during the 2009 high school season. He has won the Alabama state individual championship three times (2006, 2008, 2009) with the first coming when he was a 13-year-old eighth-grader, and he helped his team at UMS-Wright win the state title in 2008 and 2009.
The competition, which is follows a four-players-count-three scores format, will consist of four rounds played Tuesday, June 15-18. The TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup 2010 Supported by JAL is the world’s only junior golf championship in which 12 national teams, winners of regional qualifiers held across 6 continents and participated by more than 60 national teams, compete for the world champion trophy.
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