Champions crowned at inaugural IMGA Junior World Match Play

Bradenton, Fla. (December 16, 2014) – The IMG Junior Golf Tour ended the fall portion of the schedule with the inaugural IMG Academy Junior World Match Play Championships held at The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Dec. . 11-16. The pristine links of Longboat Key attracted a competitive field of more than 160 players from 15 states and 30 countries who enjoyed ideal playing conditions through six days of competition. After two rounds of stroke play that preceded the match play competition, five champions emerged on Tuesday after three days of match play. In the Boys 16-18 division, Guido Migliozzi of Camisano Vicentino, Italy entered match play as the top-seed, and was able to finish out a closely contested win over Colombia’s Ivan Camilo Ramirez Velandia on the 18^th hole, 1-up. Migliozzi is ranked #98 overall in the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Meanwhile in the Girls 15-18 division, Rinko Mitsunaga of Roswell, Ga. took home the title after remaining 1-up through the final three holes to upend Colombia’s Isabella Cardenas. To reach the final, Mitsunaga had to get past #2 seed Rino Sasaki of Japan, 3-and-2 on Monday. Mitsunaga, a senior at IMG Academy who is ranked #34 overall in the Polo Golf rankings, signed with the University of Georgia women’s golf program in November.

In the Boys 14-15 division, Malaysia’s Bryan Teoh Wiyang fended off Colombia’s Pipe Ramirez Velandia, 2-and-1. Velandia is the younger brother of Boys 16-18 runner-up Ivan Camilo Ramirez Velandia. Earlier this year, Wiyang was the winner of the Boys' Under 16 Carris Trophy at the Hertfordshire parkland, Moor Park, England.

Other winners included Stephen Sul of Old Bridge, N.J., who took the top spot in the Boys 11-13 division final with a 19-hole victory over Colombia’s Marcos Cuartas. The Girls 11-14 division featured a commanding performance by Japan’s Amu Hiratsuka, who carded a 6-and-4 win over Colombia’s Valery Plata.

The event spanned across The Resort at Longboat Key’s Harbourside and Islandside courses. American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Performance Based Entry status was awarded to top finishers. All winners have qualified for the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, Calif., to be held in July. The Tour returns to action in 2015 with the Junior Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Jan. 3-4.

For full results from the Boys 16-18 and 14-15 divisions, click HERE.

For full results from the Girls 15-18 and 11-14 and Boys 11-13 divisions, click HERE.

About the IMG Junior Golf Tour

Developed to fill a key niche in junior golf, the IMG Junior Golf Tour provides an elite setting for junior golfers to compete and gain exposure to college golf, professional golf, national junior rankings and athletic excellence. Participants have access to championship-rated courses and are provided with unique resources that enable them to grow and develop not only as an athlete but as an individual.

Interactive educational events provide players and their families with an opportunity at each event to meet and receive advice from experts and professionals on topics such as fitness and nutrition, mental performance, media training, and college recruiting. Under Armour is the Tour’s official apparel sponsor.

Additional sponsors include Gatorade, ALINE and beRecruited.com. Find us at: www.imgjuniorgolftour.com and on Facebook.

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Contact:
Johnny Esfeller, IMG Performance PR Coordinator, 941-752-2461, john.esfeller@img.com