Matthew Giles secures World Junior title
IN: News | World Juniors | Callaway World Junior Golf Championship (2006) | Wrap | by Anthony Powter | 15 Jul 2006
All the talk this week has been about Jason Day's disappearance from some major US Amateur events, his subsequent decision to turn professional, the switch from Nike to TaylorMade and the number of starts he's secured on the USPGA Tour. It that was not enough for a week, then another of our teenagers has gone on to beat the world's best to be crowned the World Junior Champion.
Matthew Giles secured the Boys 15-17 years World Championship early this morning at Torrey Pines Golf Course, in La Jolla, California, with a nine shot victory over Japan's Yoshinori Jujimoto.
Whilst exhibiting a uniquely distinctive swing, Giles' 8 under, with rounds of 72, 67,69 and 72, obviously worked as he was the only player to break par for the Championship. His next rival was Japan's Yoshinori Fujimoto at 1, followed by Danny Lee from New Zealand who finished T3 at 3. Fellow Kiwi, Ben Wallace finished T19 at 9, followed by Jason Scrivener in T23 and Matt Jager at T46.
With the win Giles finds himself joining a unique "club". Former Junior World Champions include such luminaries as Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, Nick Price, Craig Stadler, David Toms and Tiger Woods.
It's the third occasion that an Australian has won a World Junior Championship. Ironically, given the timing of this week's event, Jason Day was our last winner (2004) and Andrew Buckle was successful in 1999.
Day and Buckle are presently forging professional careers out of the game with Day making the cut in his first USPGA Tour event at the John Deere Classic and Buckle winning earlier this year on the Nationwide Tour at Virginia Beach Open. You would have to also believe Giles would be considering a similar transition, but at 16, there is plenty of time for him to prepare for life as a professional golfer.
It will be all celebrations back at The Australian Golf Club and Cronulla Golf Club in Sydney, where Giles is a member. What about Giles, well he is over the moon.
"It is unbelievable to have won this event in the footsteps of Andrew Buckle and Jason Day. I've had tremendous support from my parents who have always being there for me, my coach Barry Bent, the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation for the opportunity to get here and the support from my close friend Lyn."
"We planned the trip differently this year with two lead up events - the Sahalee Players Championship was when I played myself into form. Today the course was set up very difficult, although probably not as difficult as it will be when the US Open is to be played here."
"I intend to return in 2007 to defend the title and hopefully play in both the US Junior and US Amateur Championships."
Giles' victory the 2005 Jack Newton International Junior Classic in October last year was his ticket into the Junior World Championship. For the NSW State Junior Team Captain, it is his second international championship, having previously won the Marty La Roche Junior Championship in the US last year.
Much has been made of late about the depth of emerging Australasian talent, both male and female, filtering into the US, Asia and European scenes. Maybe it's the Australasian climate or the affordability of the game that encourages youngsters to play. Maybe it's the legacy of the "Greg Norman" phenomena, the achievements of our current professionals on the world stage, the fine work that has to be attributed to the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation or the emerging perception of golf being seen as "cool".
Whatever it is, it's working and first-rate efforts like Giles' this morning is further proof our players are getting recognised; and it's happening on a big scale.
In the 15 - 17 year old girls division, Western Australian golfer, Kristie Smith, produced a brilliant back nine of five under to charge into a share of eighth place after starting the tournament slowly. Smith has starts at the US Junior and US Amateur Championships within the next month.
Photo - Anthony Powter
