Lily May (15) takes first USA title by nine shots

Lily May Humphreys (left) receives the girls' trophy at the Junior Orange Bowl International tournament

England teenager Lily May Humphreys, only 15, capped a superb year when she won the girls’ title at the Junior Orange Bowl International tournament in Florida this weekend by the hefty margin of nine shots. 

 

She’s the first English player to win the prestigious event, scoring nine-under par over 72 holes at the Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, Miami. 

 

“This is very big for me because I came over just to experience what it’s like to play on American courses. To win this is just amazing for me,” said the 15-year-old England girl international from Channels near Chelmsford and a member of Stoke-by-Nayland Golf Club, Essex.

 

It’s her fourth big title of 2017, following wins in the British U18 girls’, English women’s and European Young Masters championships. 

 

“It’s definitely been a year to remember. I didn’t think I’d be able to top 2016 but I have! I’ll just have to try to do the same next year,” commented Humphreys, who trains with an England Golf squad.  

 

Humphreys, from Stoke by Nayland Golf Club in Essex, was making her first visit to the USA and, despite having to get used to the different grass, she made an instant impact by taking fifth place in the Dixie Amateur on seven-under par.

 

When she moved on to the Junior Orange Bowl she was at the top of the leaderboard throughout, sharing first place after her first round of two-under 69 and then forging ahead on her own with rounds of 67 66 73. 

 

Her third-round 66 was the low score of the girls’ championship and put her 10 shots clear of the field. Her opponents could barely dent that advantage as she signed off with 73, compiled in chilly, windy conditions, and including a sought-after birdie on the 18th. “It was nice to do that in the final round, after trying all week, in front of everyone watching,” said Humphreys.

 

Humphreys adds her name to a list of former champions who include a host of players who have gone on to win Majors, such as Inbee Park, Cristie Kerr, Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson.

 

But apart from the win she also enjoyed “the weather and meeting lots of different people to make friends with.” 

 

Another England player, Annabell Fuller of Roehampton, Surrey, tied 20th after rounds of 75 76 76 75. Fuller, also 15, is the English girls’ U16 champion and, like Humphreys, has been named in the initial GB and I squad for the June 2018 Curtis Cup match at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, New York State. 

 

In the boys’ championship, Ben Jones of Northamptonshire County tied 28th with rounds of 70 73 72 75. Jones won the England Golf boys’ Order of Merit for 2017 and is a member of the England Golf men’s A squad. 
The boys' title was won by a seven-shot margin by Jerry Ji of the Netherlands with a 16-under-par total of 268.
 

Click here for full scores 

 

 

 

‎ Lyndsey Hewison
‎ Press Officer
‎ England Golf
‎ pr@englandgolf.org
‎ 07590 878349

Biltmore Course, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.
LEADING BOYS' FINAL TOTALS
par 284 (4x71) Length 6,742yds
268 Jerry Ji (Netherlands) 64 65 69 70.
275 Pierre Pineau (France) 65 70 68 72
276 Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium) 69 64 72 71
277 Rasmus Hojgaard (Denmark) 67 71 68 71, Hiroshi Tai (Singapore) 68 69 73 67.
278 Nicolai Hojgaard (Denmark) 67 66 74 71.
279 Hirata Kensei (Japan) 69 71 66 73, Karl Vilips (Australia) 71 70 69 69, Leopoldo Herrrera (USA) 74 66 65 74, Rasmus Neergaard (Denmark) 69 68 75 67, Jake Beber-Frankel (USA) 67 71 69 72.
280 Andrea Romano (Italy) 65 70 70 75, Frederico Shin (Argentina) 73 68 70 69.
282 Fred Biondi (Brazil) 68 71 74 69, Bryan Wiyang Tech (USA) 72 69 72 69, Lucas Park (Brazil) 71 70 70 71, Oscar Teiffel (Sweden) 69 72 67 74.
283 Johnny Travale (Canada) 74 71 68 70, Pedro Lencart (Portugal) 74 71 67 71.
285 Aaron Du (China) 71 73 71 70.

SELECTED TOTAL
290 Benjamin Jones (England) 70 73 72 75 (T28).

Field of 58 players

LEADING GIRLS' FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71). Length: 6,089yd
275 Lily May Humphreys (England) 69 67 66 73.
284 Goto Miyu (Japan) 72 68 72 72.
285 Cory Lopez (Mexico) 71 69 73 72
286 Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France) 70 74 71 71.
290 Valeria Pachecho (Puerto Rico) 74 67 73 76, Anne Yu (USA) 73 70 72 75.
291 Agustina Gomez Cisterna (Argentina) 77 71 72 71, Franziska Sliper (Norway) 69 76 75 71, Taylor Roberts (USA) 72 76 71 72.
292 Ela Anacona (Argentina) 73 75 70 74.
293 Alexa Rivas (USA) 76 78 77 72, Celeste Dao (Canada) 71 74 76 72.
294 Sophia Bae (USA) 69 74 75 76.
295 Linn Grant (Sweden 69 78 77 71
296 Rachel Kuehn (USA) 70 74 72 80, Clarisse Louis (Belgium) 73 73 77 73.
297 Latanna Stone (USA) 74 74 76 73, Alexa Pano (USA) 77 73 72 75.
298 Ami Gianchandrni (USA) 74 73 76 75.
302 Annabell Fuller (England) 75 76 76 75, Haylin Harris (USA) 79 76 69 78, Camile Banzet (France) 72 76 74 80.

SELECTED TOTAL
305 Darcey Harry (Wales) 75 73 77 90 (T25).

Field of 43 players