Sports

59th Annual Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship

Biltmore Golf Course

January 2-6, 2023

Results

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Junior Orange Bowl International Golf - Day 4

by Jeff Shain (305) 987-8638

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2023) — A year ago, Jay Brooks stood on the precipice of becoming a rare wire-to-wire winner at the Junior Orange Bowl International golf championships until getting chased down at the end by Nicholas Prieto’s sizzling final 65.

Twelve months later, Brooks was never any closer to the lead than three shots after any round — until Friday.

“Today was exactly the opposite,” marveled the South Florida teen, whose blistering start Friday set the stage for a role reversal and a bit of delayed gratification.

A 3-under-par 68 at historic Biltmore Golf Club, sparked by birdies in his first four holes, wiped out a four-shot deficit and finally put the champion’s trophy in his hands. Brooks finished two shots clear of Marco Florioli (Italy) and Kelvin Hernandez (Puerto Rico).

“It feels great to finally win,” added the Boca Raton golfer. “I had a sour taste in my mouth after last year, and it was great to finally get it done.”

It was a good week for last year’s runners-up. Anna Davis (Spring Valley, Calif.) also went one better in the girls’ division, playing steady golf across all four days to capture a three-shot triumph over Belgium’s Savannah De Bock. >>>>>continue