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U.S. Girls’ Junior5Jutanugarn Wins the 2011 ChampionshipAriya Jutanugarn, 15, of Thailand, defeated Dottie Ardina, 17,of the Philippines, 2 and 1, to win the 2011 U.S. Girls’ JuniorChampionship, conducted on the 6,403-yard, par-72 SouthCourse at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club.Jutanugarn captured her first USGA championship, becomingonly the 16th stroke-play medalist in the 63-year history of thechampionship to take the victory. She also became the thirdplayer from Thailand to win a USGA title.“I’m so proud because it’s my first win in match play,” saidJutanugarn, who had not advanced past the third round at aUSGA championship conducted at match play since her firstchampionship appearance at the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior.Jutanugarn opened with a bang, birdieing the par-4 first holeto take an immediate 1-up lead. She was able to hold the leaduntil the sixth hole, where her second shot rolled down a steephill to the left of the green. Two unsuccessful attempts to reachthe green squared the match.Ardina and Jutanugarn swapped pars for the next 11 holesto remain all square, but Jutanugarn’s bogey on the par-417th gave Ardina a 1-up lead that she carried into the breakbetween rounds.Jutanugarn used the one-hour break to reflect on her first 18holes and the flaws she found in her game, particularly in herputting.“I think in the morning, I played not so good because I misseda lot of putts. They were all short all the time,” said Jutanugarn,who competed in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open and won the2011 Rolex Girls Junior Championship.Ardina also pointed to her putting as her weakness during themorning round.“The key to the match was birdies and pars,” said Ardina, whohas represented the Philippines twice at the Women’s WorldAmateur Team Championship. “I just kept making threeputts.”The break ultimately went to Jutanugarn’s favor, as she immediatelybirdied the 19th hole to square the match. The seesawbattle continued from there, with Ardina never lettingJutanugarn extend her lead past a single hole.Finally, at the par-4 31st hole, she got the break that sheneeded. When Ardina hit her approach 10 feet right of thehole, Jutanugarn stepped up and dropped her approach shotwithin 2 feet. Ardina’s missed birdie putt was Jutanugarn’smoment to capitalize, and a birdie gave her the first 2-up leadof the match.Despite losing the 33rd hole to Ardina to narrow the margin to1 up, Jutanugarn’s success on the 31st hole gave her the confidenceshe needed to go for the win.“I just think like if I can make this one, and I want to make birdieand make one, I’m going to be dormie,” said Jutanugarn. “ButI make it and next hole I miss it, so I feel like, ‘OK, 17, I’m goingto make.’”And make it she did. Ardina’s long putt on No. 35, a par 4,blew 3 feet past the hole, and her short comebacker burnedthe edge. Jutanugarn’s 4-foot par putt clinched the two-holevictory.The entire Jutanugarn family was a familiar sight around theOFCC grounds. Jutanugarn’s sister, Moriya, was forced towithdraw from the championship with a wrist injury and ultimatelyserved as her sister’s trusted adviser and caddie. Herparents, Somboon and Narumon, always quietly walked thesidelines, cheering on their daughter.“I feel like I’m so happy,” said Jutanugarn, who spends fivemonths per year traveling the United States with her family,spending week upon week in hotel rooms. “I really want tothank my dad and my mom who are with me all the time, everyyear, and thank you to my sister for being the caddie for methis week.“[Moriya is] so nice, and she tells me if she played this tournament,she’s going to beat me.”As for Ardina, her morning troubles with her putter never wentaway, though she did hit 34 of 35 fairways off the tee and allbut three greens. She was able to walk away from the disappointmentwith a measure of satisfaction.“It’s OK, I’m OK,” said Ardina. “I’m disappointed because myputting dropped me down.”Girls’ Junior