Aree Wongluekiet

Aree Wongluekiet of Bradenton, Fla., became the youngest champion in USGA history, at 13 years, three months and seven days, when she defeated Nancy Abiecunas, 16, of Fort Collins, Colo., 2 up in the 18hole final of the 1999 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Green Spring Valley Hunt Club in Owings Mills, Md.

Wongluekiet, who is originally from Thailand and came to the United States in August 1997, was born on May 1, 1986.

Kay Cornelius, who won the 1981 U.S. Girls' Junior at Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, Ore., at 14 years, seven months and 10 days, had held the title of youngest champion.

"This is the highlight of my summer," said Wongluekiet, who had won five junior events in 1999 and played the last 11 holes of the match in four-under par. "It's very special. It's great to win at a young age. I have four more years to play (in this championship)."

Wongluekiet, whose twin sister, Naree, advanced to the quarterfinals but withdrew on an injury default, rebounded from a 2-down deficit after seven holes by winning holes 11, 12 and 18. She parred 11 and birdied 12 and 18. Two clutch parsaving putts on the 16th and 17th holes also kept her edge.

Wongluekiet gained the lead with a conceded birdie on 12 as Abiecunas made a bogey after

pulling her drive into the trees, chipping out and then hitting her third shot into the front water hazard.

Abiecunas had birdied No. 2 and eagled the 497-yard, par-5 sixth from 25 feet on the fringe and then made a par to Wongluekiet's double bogey 6 on the par-4 7th to gain a 2up lead. Aree, who is younger than her sister by nine minutes, then birdied the 8th to reduce Abiecunas' lead to 1-up.

After each player parred the 9th hole and birdied the short par-4 10th, Wongluekiet evened the match with a par on 11 as Abiecunas missed a 21/z foot putt for par.

"I had to play a little more aggressively and get a break," Wongluekiet said of being 2-down. "I was trying to get my momentum back because she was playing very well. I felt the key was the putt on 16 when I kept my 1-up lead."

Abiecunas, who was a quarterfinalist in 1997 as a 14-year-old, was unable to convert birdie opportunities at No.1, 3, 7, 8, 16 and 17. She lipped out from eight feet to with a chance to even the match at the 17th.

"I don't think I had a putt outside 15 feet (on the front nine) but I just couldn't make any," Abiecunas said. "If I putted well today, I would have been able to get a head up on the front nine and to build momentum."