RIO GRANDE - Jason Roets of South Africa survived a sudden-death playoff yesterday to win the inaugural Puerto Rico Junior Open, while Monifa Sealy of T&T won the Girls Division at Trump International Golf Club's Championship Course. In the Girls Division, Sealy began the final round with a one-stroke lead, but found herself trailing Patricia Garcia of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, late in the day. That changed quickly, however, as Sealy made birdie at 17, while Garcia bogeyed the 18th. The two-shot swing gave Sealy a one-shot cushion, which she held with a par at 18 to finish at 2-over-par 218.
Of her crucial birdie, Sealy said: "I hit it to two feet. I was in the fairway, 115 yards out, and I thought 'It's all or nothing now.' When I heard everyone clapping I was like, 'Yes!'" After fighting her way out of a recent slump, Sealy was thrilled with her first AJGA victory. "I feel 100 pounds lighter today," Sealy said. "I feel relief and happiness. I was playing great last year, but my last three tournaments my game was in a rut." Sealy also was glad to pick up a win near her home in T&T.
"I'm really happy because Trinidad and Puerto Rico have a big rivalry," she said. "Last year, Patricia (Garcia) beat me by one at the Caribbean Amateur Junior." This time, Garcia finished one behind Sealy, where she tied for second with Giovana Maymon of Huixquilucan, Mexico, at 3-over-par 219. The three girls all shared the lead after the first round, and they stayed close throughout the weekend.