England’s Charlotte Naughton holds on to win particular person honours with essential par save on 18
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – The Republic of Korea (Korea) battled the swirling winds however efficiently defended their title, turning into the primary back-to-back champions in event historical past on the 2025 World Junior Ladies Golf Championship at St. Catharines Golf & Nation Membership in St. Catharines, Ont., on Saturday.
Korea opened the ultimate spherical with a 10-shot cushion however dropped a pair strokes early within the day to deliver the sector again into competition. Ultimately, they persevered via the weather to win the world championship for a file fourth time within the event’s ten-year historical past.
“This week they carried out very effectively, particularly the primary one for Yeonseo Kim, it was her first time to come back to Canada and the primary time for a nationwide staff occasion however nonetheless she performed tremendously,” mentioned Korea Coach Min Naon. “At this time, they knew their rating, so that they tried to not make large numbers, and it labored. It wasn’t a simple day for us, however they held on to the top.”
On Saturday, Yun Search engine optimisation Yang’s even par 72 and Seojin Park’s 1-over 73 counted in the direction of the staff’s whole, with Korea ending the event at 20-under (141-135-135-145-556), successful by seven strokes over previous champions, Workforce Canada 1 and Spain.
This was the third yr for each Naon and Park representing Korea on the World Junior Ladies Golf Championship and the coach was reflective on her time working with Park and final yr’s particular person champion, Soomin Oh.
“Very particular to me. Seojin and Soomin have been my first ladies that I labored with, and so they actually love to come back to Canada and Golf Canada, and we actually respect it yearly and I can see they’re rising up in order that’s excellent,” she mentioned.
The win provides Korea two championships together with a runner-up end within the three years that Naon has coached the staff.
“We play many large tournaments however for me, this occasion could be very particular. Three years in the past, once I got here right here, it was the primary occasion, and successful once more could be very particular for me.”
As Korea battled on Saturday, Workforce Canada 1 shot up the leaderboard led by Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C.’s 3-under 69 and Shauna Liu’s even par 72. Canada continued to chip away on the lead, pulling to inside 5 pictures of the leaders as they made the activate Saturday.
“We acquired off to a reasonably good begin in the present day and once we made the flip we acquired it to 15-under and all the women have been taking part in very well and I appeared and noticed Korea was coming again perhaps a little bit bit so there was a second there I assumed perhaps we might get this accomplished, as a result of I do know the women are able to taking pictures a very low quantity,” mentioned Workforce Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald.
Like Naon, MacDonald was teaching in his third event with Workforce Canada 1 and have earned three profitable podium finishes, successful gold in 2023 and consecutive runner-up finishes.
MacDonald praised his staff’s depth and resiliency this week, “they’re nice teammates. They actually play for one another, which is nice. Canada 2 had an awesome consequence this week, which is so encouraging for our program, it reveals the depth that we’ve, and issues are trying good.” Workforce Canada 1 was additionally represented by Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont.
Xing and MacDonald may even signify Canada on the World Newbie Workforce Championship in Singapore subsequent month together with Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. and Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.
Workforce Canada 2 had their finest end in event historical past ending in sixth place at 8-under and have been led by Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. who completed the event at 9-under and as runner-up within the particular person part. Ding’s 1-under 71 and Eileen Park of Purple Deer, Alta.’s even par 72 counted for the staff on Saturday. Workforce Canada 2 was additionally represented by Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C.
Two-time champions, Spain shared runner-up honours with Canada 1 at 13-under. France and England tied for fourth at 9-under. Mexico (6-under), Italy (2-under), Colombia and Sweden (even par) rounded out the highest 10 and all obtain exemptions into subsequent yr’s championship.
The person championship offered a lot drama within the ultimate spherical as England’s Charlotte Naughton held on to win the gold medal and with it an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Ladies’s Open.
“It feels superb, I’m really speechless,” mentioned Naughton shortly after having water dumped on her by her teammates on the 18th inexperienced. “I’m actually excited to play in opposition to the highest golfers on the earth,” she added in regard to her exemption.
Naughton opened the day with a two-shot lead over Kim however opened with bogey on No. 1 to tighten the leaderboard though not for very lengthy. She carded back-to-back birdies on Nos. 2 and three to open a four-shot lead over Kim who bogeyed the third. Naughton’s lead elevated to 5 with one other birdie on No 6. Enjoying forward of Naughton was Ding who moved into solo second and inside 4 of the chief following a birdie of her personal on No. 8.
Ding’s birdie at No. 12 coupled with a bogey from Naughton on 14 trimmed her result in two with solely few holes remaining. Ding later dropped a stroke on 18 to complete at 9-under. Naughton’s double bogey on the par 3 seventeenth meant she was solely carrying a one-shot lead heading to the 18th.
On the ultimate gap, Naughton’s method discovered a inexperienced aspect bunker. As the gang watched in muted anticipation, Naughton’s good sand save gave her a chance to make par and win the title.
Placing had been the strongest a part of her sport all week in St. Catharines, and the flat stick didn’t fail her on 18 as she coolly rolled it in for the win.
“It was very annoying on the market. I made plenty of up and downs and holed a couple of putts however in the direction of the again 9 I had plenty of probabilities, however the ball simply wouldn’t go within the gap. So, once I knew I needed to gap out it was a pleasant straight up hill putt, so it was good,” mentioned a relieved Naughton.
Naughton completed the event at 10-under following rounds of 70-66-68-74-278 and whereas she has loved a profitable season, this win has moved to a outstanding spot in her younger profession, “undoubtedly primary,” she mentioned with an enormous smile.
There gained’t be a lot relaxation for Naughton as she is going to now head to the 2025 Junior Ryder Cup at Nassau Nation Membership and Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. subsequent week to signify each England and Europe.
Adriana Garcia Terol (Spain), Lin and Park completed tied for third at 7-under. Nagore Martinez (Spain) and Kim completed tied for sixth at 6-under.
In whole, a subject of 23 groups and 69 gamers in whole competed for staff and particular person honours. Naughton, Ding, Garcia Terol, Lin and Park may even earn exemptions into the 112th Canadian Ladies’s Newbie Championship, offered by BDO, happening at The Toronto Golf Membership in Mississauga, Ont., July 20-24, 2026.
A number of gamers who’ve competed within the World Junior Ladies Golf Championship have gone on to nice success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 14-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest skilled golfer, completed fourth within the particular person competitors on the inaugural championship in 2014.
Different notable rivals who went on to grow to be LPGA Tour winners embody Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand who gained back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 in addition to Yuka Saso of the Philippines who gained the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Ladies’s Open winner, Megan Khang of america competed within the inaugural event in 2014. Different former World Junior rivals who’ve gone on to win on the LPGA Tour embody Hannah Inexperienced of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea gained each the 2015 staff and particular person championship on the World Junior Ladies Golf Championship and has earned a number of prime 5 finishes on the LPGA Tour.
For the ultimate staff and particular person leaderboard, following the 2025 World Junior Ladies Golf Championship, please click on right here.
