Park wins U.S. Juniors title over Kaneko

LAKEWOOD, Wash. » Kristen Park beat Ayaka Kaneko 4 and 3 yesterday to become the fourth-youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Junior Girls Amateur Championship.

The 14-year-old Park, from Buena Park, Calif., was playing in her first USGA championship.

The score was tied after the first 18 holes on the 6,391-yard Tacoma Country & Golf Club course, but the 17-year-old Kaneko missed a number of putts and hit her ball under a tree on two occasions.

After the 19th hole, Park went in front for good and her lead continued to grow until both golfers conceded bogies on the 33rd hole.

"I was really nervous in front of all those people out there," Park said after her victory. "I was too stiff on the first 18 holes."

Whitsett wins U.S. Junior

AUGUSTA, Mo. » Cory Whitsett overcame an early two-hole deficit by winning five consecutive holes in an 8-and-7 victory over Anthony Paolucci to win the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship yesterday.

Whitsett had birdies at Nos. 7 and 9 and parred Nos. 8, 10 and 11 at Boone Valley Golf Club in the morning portion of the 36-hole match play final to turn a 2-up deficit to a 3-up advantage. He finished with five birdies and just two bogeys.