Deng earns her third win of the season in Georgia
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. defeated Xingtong Chen of Singapore, 2 and 1 after 35 holes within the ultimate to win the 76th U.S. Women’ Junior Championship on Saturday on the Atlanta Athletic Membership in Johns Creek, Ga. Deng turns into the primary Canadian to win the title in match historical past.
“It actually means rather a lot. I simply can’t imagine that I gained,” mentioned Deng. “I didn’t actually take into consideration the top end result as a result of I knew there have been a variety of good gamers right here. I simply tried to win every match.”
The 15-year-old member of Crew Canada NextGen led Chen 4 up following the opening 18-holes of the ultimate. Deng and Chen traded the lead via the opening six holes earlier than Deng gained Nos. 7, 10, 12 and 13 to earn the benefit heading into the ultimate 18-holes of the championship.
Within the afternoon, Chen pulled to inside two after profitable Nos. 19 and 23 and the 2 battled back-and-forth earlier than Deng retook her 4 up lead after profitable Nos. 27 and 28. Chen once more pulled to inside two late taking Nos. 32 and 34; however each carded pars on the thirty fifth gap giving Deng the win at 2 and 1.
Deng’s path to the ultimate started after sitting at 2-over T32 following stroke play on Tuesday. Within the Spherical of 64 on Wednesday, she defeated Sarah Hammett of Australia, 2 and 1 to advance. Thursday would mark two extra victories, first within the Spherical of 32, following a 2 and 1 win over Mia Calles of Clinton, S.C. and later profitable in 19 holes over Yujie Liu of China. The quarters and semifinals passed off on Friday, the place Deng started with a 2 up victory over Chloe Kovelesky of Boca Raton, Fla. adopted by a 2 and 1 win over Rayee Feng of Quick Hills, N.J. to safe her spot within the finals.
The win is the third for Deng, having beforehand gained two junior titles earlier this season, together with the 2025 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in April and the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open in Might the place she performed alongside world no. 1, Nelly Korda.
Deng has additionally earned exemptions into all remaining U.S. Women’ Junior Championships for which she is age eligible. As well as, an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Ladies’s Open in addition to exemptions into the 2025 and 2026 U.S. Ladies’s Novice.
“Aphrodite is a really proficient participant who got here to this system with nice household help and fairly a number of wins at a younger age. She is extremely exhausting working and disciplined. This can be a large win for her and this system. I’m very blissful for Aphrodite and her household,” mentioned Jeff MacDonald, Head Coach, Crew Canada NextGen Women.
Crew Canada NextGen members, Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C., Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont., Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. and Eileen Park of Crimson Deer, Alta. additionally competed this week.
Lin superior to the Spherical 16 the place she fell to the highest ranked participant within the discipline, Grace Carter of Jupiter, Fla. 1 up on Thursday. Lin completed stroke play at 1-under T15 and gained her Spherical of 64 match, 6 and 5 over Junxi Guo of Singapore and her Spherical of 32 match, 3 and a couple of over Kacey Ly of Temple Metropolis, Calif. As well as, Xing and Wang each superior to the Spherical of 64 of the match.
The 76th U.S. Women’ Junior Championship opened on Monday with 36-holes of stroke play over the primary two days earlier than transferring into match play on Wednesday via to Saturday’s ultimate.
For the ultimate standings and match play outcomes from the U.S. Women’ Junior Championship, please click on right here.
