2022 U.S. Girls Junior Champion Yana Wilson beats the pros in Cactus Tour event
16 Feb 2024
by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Yana Wilson Rankings
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Yana Wilson finished strong to win on the Cactus Tour. (Yana Wilson IG)
Yana Wilson can add "professional tournament winner" to her already illustrious resume. The high school senior won on the Cactus Tour at Sun City CC. Wilson, (Henderson, Nev. ) shot 67-73-69 to win by two shots over Antonia Malate, a recent graduate from San Jose State.
The 2022 U.S. Girls' Junior champion finished in a flurry, making birdies on the final three holes to catch, and then pass, Malate. The closing stretch for Wilson was proof of her bona fides, especially after a slow start on the front nine. Wilson made bogeys on hole Nos. 2,4, and 9. Malate held a four-shot lead heading into the back nine, but Wilson turned the tables with a 31, beating Malate by six shots.
Over the course of the 54 holes, Wilson carded 14 birdies. A quick look down the leaderboard highlights Wilson's strong performance, as Sophia Popov, the 2020 Women's Open Champion finished in fourth place, six shots behind Wilson.
Related: WILSON TAKES CUE FROM WORLD NO. 1, CONVERTS US GIRLS JUNIOR TITLE Once she graduates, Wilson will attend Oregon in the fall, joining the 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior Champion - Kiara Romano.