Interlachen added to its storied tournament history in 2016 by hosting the Junior Ryder Cup. In conjunction with the Ryder Cup hosted at Hazeltine National, Interlachen welcomed 24 of the world’s best junior golfers for a two day competition featuring alternate shot, mixed four-ball, and singles matches. With 6 boys and 6 girls representing both the U.S. and European sides, the Junior Ryder Cup has come to be one of the most prestigious events in all of junior golf.
An event that began in 1997, this would be the 10th running of this biennial tournament that has proven year after year to feature future tour stars. Notable names from past Junior Ryder Cup competitions include the likes of Sergio Garcia, Hunter Mahan, Suzanne Pettersen, Lexi Thompson, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth.
With flags at half-mast honoring the passing of Arnold Palmer, the stage was set for some exciting golf in the first day of competition. Adding to the challenge was blustery late September weather, with winds gusting up to 30 mph. Despite difficult conditions, both sides brought their fierce competitive spirit to the course for what would turn out to be an even split 3-3 after Monday’s morning foursomes matches.
The Americans, captained by former PGA President Jim Remy, got off to an early lead only to be caught by the European side in several matches that turned out to finish in dramatic fashion.
In the final match of the morning, Italian Emilie Alba Paltrinieri made a short par putt on No. 18 — after hitting a 180-yard hybrid on her approach within four-feet, to close out a nip and tuck, 1-up win for her and teammate Emma Spitz of Germany, over Americans Alyaa Abdulghany and Lucy Li.
“I was standing over the ball and the wind changed, so I started my routine again and considered changing clubs,” said Paltrinieri. “But then the wind changed back again, so I went with my hybrid, and hit it perfectly. It was really important to finish the foursomes all square.”
About 15 minutes earlier, France’s Adrien Pendaries drilled a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to give him and teammate Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen of Denmark, a dramatic 1-up win over Americans Noah Goodwin and Norman Xiong.
The Americans were first bit by some unfortunate luck on the hole, as Xiong’s approach shot hit high on the green and rolled all the way off, stopping on the side of a hill.
“I thought it was a great shot,” reasoned Xiong. “It just rolled off the green. It’s golf. It happens.”
However, things would even out, as the next group faced a similar experience. Yet, this time, Finland’s Matias Honkala saw his approach land on the mid-part of the green, only to roll off, too.
Meanwhile, a match that looked like a runaway became a tense competition, as Eugene Hong and Patrick Welch raced to an early 5-up lead. However, things would turn, as Europe’s Falko Hanisch and Matias Honkala mounted a ferocious comeback, with a long chip on No. 15 that turned the seemingly easy point for the U.S. into something a little more interesting.
Still, American Eugene Hong would hit it close on the 18th green with his approach.
“I hit a drive on the right side of the fairway; Eugene hit a pretty great shot – probably the shot of the day, knowing where we were in the match – and we were able to two-putt,” said Welch.
With teams all square after morning foursomes matches, players switched for the afternoon to a mixed four-ball format that continued to see impressive play from both sides.
After watching France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard sink a 20-foot par putt, accentuated by a fist-pump, American Emilia Migliaccio drilled a dramatic 12-foot downhill par putt of her own, to halve the hole and win the match alongside partner Wilson Furr.
In the final match of the day, Austria’s Emma Spitz sank a 30-foot putt on No. 17 to clinch a 3 & 1 win for her and teammate Falko Hanisch over America’s Eugene Hong and Gina Kim to keep the spread at two points entering Tuesday’s final day Singles Matches.
Resting on a two point lead, the American squad took an early lead in the Tuesday singles matches and never looked back. With nine of the 12 players on the U.S. Team ranked among the Top 10 junior boys and girls in the world, the Americans built off a 7 to 5 lead amassed the day before in foursomes and mixed four-ball, and were off to the races. It was an impressive performance by the Americans, as they won the singles matches by a solid five points, 8-1/2 to 3-1/2.
Patrick Welch, 16, of Providence, Rhode Island, steered the charge with a dominating 5 & 4 win over France’s Adrien Pendaries. Closing out in 14 holes, Welch was a scintillating 6-under par, with a round that featured a 35-foot putt for eagle on Hole No. 9, in addition to five birdies and just one bogey.
“This was probably my best round maybe ever,” said Welch, who was runner-up in the 2016 Junior PGA Championship this past summer. “I was just really solid. I think I just missed one or two greens and made a lot of putts. I’m definitely happy with the way I played.”
Welch and Wake Forest commit Emilia Migliaccio, of Cary, North Carolina, both were undefeated at 3-0 on the week.
Another solid point was put on the board by Lucy Li, 13, of Redwood Shores, California, who won in dominating fashion, 6 & 4. The 2016 Junior PGA Champion, Li was also the youngest player in U.S. Women’s Open history, when she played in the event two years prior.
The 2016 Junior Ryder Cup proved to be yet another fantastic display of competitive golf that added to the legacy of the Club. Jim Remy perhaps put it best in his closing remarks, when he said “Golf won today. This was a tremendous championship.”
