Olivia Mehaffey, the world No 16 amateur, emphatically won the 30th Telegraph BMW Junior Championship girls’ title by a staggering 16 shots.
Olivia Mehaffey, the world No 16 amateur, emphatically won the 30th Telegraph BMW Junior Championship girls’ title while Jamie Li won his first finals at the third – and final – time of asking after a one-shot victory in the boys’ event at Quinta do Lago on Friday.
Mehaffey, the rising Northern Irish star and a member at Royal County Down, won by a staggering 16 shots, one of the biggest gaps in Junior Championship history.
The 17-year-old co-led after the first round with Eloise Healey, but stamped her authority in the final two rounds to finish six under par after a 69 in her third round.
She said: “Whatever lead you have, it feels like everyone is breathing down your neck. I was shaky after three bogeys but managed to relax and enjoy the back nine. I looked at the honours board the other day and to win alongside the other girls is such an honour. It’s a great event and I’m really grateful to be a sponsors’ invite and win it.”
Her end of season victory at the prestigious 54-hole strokeplay Telegraph event added to the Scottish, Irish and Welsh Open Amateur titles she has won this year.
Healey finished second after a 77, while Chloe Howard posted a 78 to finish 20 strokes off Mehaffey’s winning score.
