Junior golfer Khavish wins AJGA Players Championship

Proud moment for V. Khavish Varman as he came from behind to beat Cole Hammer to lift the American Junior Golf Assocation (AJGA) Players Championship crown at Sawgrass Country Club in Floriday on Sunday.

PETALING JAYA: Golfer V. Khavish Varman has done Malaysia proud on American soil.

The 15-year-old captured the prestigious American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Players Championship after beating American Cole Hammer in a sudden-death playoff at the Sawgrass Country Club in Florida on Sunday.

In the playoff, Hammer, who competed in last year’s US Open, sent his tee shot into the water and Khavish took advantage by calmly making a three-footer for par at the par-five 18th to clinch his maiden AJGA crown.

Khavish, who started the final round four strokes behind leader Hammer, carded a four-under 68 for a three-day total of 10-under 206 in the 78-player field.

He opened with a 73 but bounced back with the tournament’s best score of 65 in the second round.

“It feels incredible to win. This is one of the best fields you can play in, and it feels great to come out on top,” Khavish told the AJGA official website (www.ajga.org).

Khavish, who is studying at the Saddlebrook Preparatory School in Florida, is in his first AJGA season.

He was also impressive in his previous tournaments. He was placed eighth at the Core Golf Academy Junior All-Star in March and then two third-place finishes at the Sergio Garcia Foundation Junior Championship in May and KPMG Stacy Lewis Junior All-Star Invitational in June.

Bryan Teoh Wiyang was the other Malaysian in action at the Sawgrass Country Club. He closed with a 75 to tie for fifth on 213.

Leading final round scores

*US unless stated

206: V. Khavish Varman (Mas) 73-65-68, Cole Hammer 67-67-72 (Khavish wins in sudden-death playoff);

210: Trey Winstead 70-70-70;

212: Mason Nome 73-68-71;

213: Jacob Bergeron 73-70-70, Bryan Teoh Wiyang (Mas) 68-70-75;

214: Albin Bergstrom (Swe) 73-72-69;

215: Andrien Pendaries (Fra) 73-71-71;

216: Kristoffer Reitan (Nor) 75-70-73, Devin Deogun 75-68-73, Davis Shore 71-70-75, Marc Hammer (Ger) 76-68-74.