Birdie binge eliminates Richmond’s Ball, Spieth can make history on Saturday
Richmond’s Adam Ball conquered one of the nation’s best juniors on Friday morning. But two was too much to ask in the U.S. Junior Amateur semifinals as he fell to 2009 winner Jordan Spieth of Dallas, 7 and 5.
Spieth, 17, a contender the last two years in the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Championship, faces 16-year-old Chelso Barrett of Keane, N.H. in the 36-hole final Saturday at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash. Spieth can become the second player in the 63-year history of the event to win multiple Junior Am titles. The first was Tiger Woods who won three straight (1991-93).
In the quarterfinals, Ball, a junior at St. Christopher’s School and son of VCU golf coach Matt Ball, toppled the No. 1 seed and U.S. Open qualifier Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo, Calif., 2 and 1.
But in the afternoon, Spieth was in rare form. After Ball won the first hole, Spieth answered with five straight birdies to take control. He finished the match with eight birdies in 13 holes.
In the U.S. Girls Junior at the South Course at Olympia Fields Country Club (Ill.), No. 1 seed Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand will face Dottie Ardina of the Philippines in the 36-hole championship match.
It’s a title Jutanugarn has seemed destined to win since 2009 when, as a 13-year-old, she upset defending champion Alexis Thompson in the third round. On Friday, Jutanugarn demonstrated her considerable game in the semifinals where she dominated 14-year-old Amy Lee of Calif., 8 and 6.
