Numpituckchaikul Annihilates Field at Sanctuary Golf Club

BEAUFORT, S.C. - A highly talented group of junior golfers came to compete in the 36-hole International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) Sanctuary Shootout at Sanctuary Golf Club. Over the weekend firm greens and high wind speeds made for difficult scoring conditions, but many players took on the challenging layout of Sanctuary Golf Club and played very well.

Moe Numpituckchaikul of Bangkok, Thailand won his first IJGT tournament in stunning fashion after shooting a pair of 2-under-par 69's for the tournament. Numpituckchaikul, a Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (HHIJGA) student, was precise in all aspects of his game at Sanctuary Golf Club, making only one bogey the entire tournament.

During Saturday's first round Numpituckchaikul used a late back-nine surge to gain a three stroke lead. On Sunday he started off his first 9 holes well by turning in a 2-under-par 33 with birdies on hole Nos. 4 and 7. Numpituckchaikul coasted to the clubhouse with nine straight pars on the back to complete his nine stroke victory. Nine strokes is the largest margin of victory in the Boys 15-19 Division at an IJGT event this year. He did it against great competition too, as seven of the top ten players in the IJGT Merit Points Standings were in the field.

After placing in the top-five six different times during the 2011-2012 season, Numpituckchaikul was elated to finally get a win. "I feel very good&like so happy," he said.

Numpituckchaikul's final-round score of 2-under-par 69 earned him the Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award, which goes to the player who shoots the lowest score during Sunday's round.

Finishing in second place was Adrian Gonzalez (HHIJGA) of Chihuahua, Mexico with a tournament total of 5-over-par 147. Chris Magi (HHIJGA) of Montreal, Canada and Charlie Spencer-White of Bluffton, S.C., tied for third place after carding a tournament score of 149.

In the Girls Division, Saya Aono (HHIJGA) of Yamanashi, Japan repeated as champion after putting together two impressive rounds of 73 and 75. Birdies were tough to come by on Saturday for Aono as she only made one during the round, but her ability to string together multiple pars allowed her to post a 2-over-par 73 and go into Sunday's final round with a one stroke lead.

On Sunday, all of the girls in contention got off to a slow start, but Aono made a great birdie on No. 13 that gave her a four stroke lead and one that she would maintain the rest of tournament. Aono, a 2017 graduate, played the par-3's at Sanctuary Golf Club in 1-under-par on Sunday and even-par for the entire tournament.

With the firm greens at Sanctuary Golf Club, many of the competitors in the Girls Division had trouble keeping the ball on the greens, but Aono had more success than others because of the position she put herself in off the tee. When asked what the best part of her game was this weekend, Aono quickly and frankly answered, "Driver."

Finishing in second place was Ana Ruiz (HHIJGA) of Chihuahua, Mexico after carding two rounds of 76 for the tournament. Phyllis Tang (HHIJGA) of Hong Kong, China, and Nicole Okada (HHIJGA) of Manhattan Beach, Calif., tied for third place with a tournament total of 158.

Aono's final-round score of 4-over-par 75 was the lowest score of the day in the Girls Division and won her the coveted Clazic Belts Low Final Round Award.

The Boys 14 & Under Division crowned a new IJGT Champion after Masato Yoshitsugu (HHIJGA) of Aichi, Japan finished off the tournament with a score of 149. Yoshitsugu has been playing very well lately and this victory was earned through much hard work and dedication over the past few months. In his three previous tournaments, Yoshitsugu placed in at least third or better every time.

Yoshitsugu began the tournament with 1-under-par 70: his lowest score ever. He made four birdies on the day including three in a four hole stretch. Going into the final round with a six stroke lead, Yoshitsugu was a little nervous, but ounced back from a double-bogey on his second hole with a birdie on the next. From there he played conservatively, ending the tournament with four pars in his last five holes.

Yoshitsugu had success with his putter during both rounds at the Sanctuary Shootout. "My putter was so good," he said.

In second place with a tournament total of 153 was Tennoshin Ogawa (HHIJGA) of Ichinomiya-shi, Japan. Finishing in third place was Lohith Ramaraju (HHIJGA) of London, England with a tournament total of 154.

Each of the division winners also received custom head covers from AB Golf Designs - the Official Head Cover of the IJGT. The IJGT will make its next Southeast stop in Kissimmee, Fla., on May 12 - May 13, 2012 for the IJGT Florida Swing at Falcon's Fire Golf Club.

About the IJGT

The IJGT provides exceptional junior golfers with the opportunity to develop and showcase their competitive skills while setting high standards to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game. As a tour that operates primarily throughout the academic year, the IJGT hosts approximately 60 tournaments annually. In addition, the IJGT hosts three international events. Each event provides multi-day competition for junior golfers of all skill levels ages 9-19. Players representing 45 states and 43 countries around the world regularly compete in events at venues such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Bethpage State Park, and Harbour Town Golf Links. Official partners of the IJGT include Bridgestone Golf, Quagmire Golf, KENTWOOL, CHAMP Spikes, Clazic Belts, AB Golf Designs, The First Tee, Golf Digest/Golf World, and Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

To obtain more information about the IJGT, please visit www.IJGT.com or call (800) 792-9143.