Malixi falls short, Romero wins title

RIANNE Malixi wobbled a bit at resumption of the exacting 36-hole duel and lost whatever rhythm and momentum she had gained in a brave morning stand, yielding a 1-up result – and the championship – to Kiara Romero of the US in the US Girls’ Junior final at the Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue course in Colorado Saturday.

Malixi was in control at the onset, winning the first hole on a Romero mishap and stayed in command until the 22nd hole when she made a bogey on the par-4 No. 4. She was impressive on the military layout’s par-3s all week but a bogey on No. 13, the 31st hole, enabled her third-seeded rival to seize the lead for only the second time with five to play.

Romero, 17, halved the remaining holes to frustrate the Filipina ace and clinch the coveted crown.

“I’m just so excited and super tired,” said Romero. “It’s been a long day and I’m grad I got it done.” Romero actually overshot the par-4 18th, the 36th hole, leaving her a downhill chip. She hit it eight feet past the hole but calmly stroked the tricky putt to nail the victory and dash whatever hopes Malixi had had for a playoff.

“I didn’t think about how it would determine the match,” said Romero. “I just tried to focus on putting a good stroke on it.”

The victory also netted the incoming Univ. of Oregon freshman, whose mother is a Filipina, an exemption to next year’s US Women’s Open and an invitation to the 2024 Augusta Women’s amateur. It was a heart-breaker of a setback for Malixi, who had hoped to cap an incredible journey in the week marked by a steal of a win over Audrey Rischer in the Round of 16 and a couple more of gutsy wins with a crowning glory to what had been a sterling amateur career.