Juan Pablo Hernandez takes home the South Beach International Amateur title
Juan Pablo Hernandez capped his 2012 campaign in style, as he fired a three-under par 68 in the final round of the South Beach International Amateur, to claim a four-stroke victory over Hank Lebioda.
The tournament was being staged at the Miami Beach Golf Club, featuring a total of 74 players from different parts of the world.
The second edition of the elite South Florida amateur tournament overlapped the Dixie Amateur in nearby Coral Springs, one of the premier amateur golf tournaments.
Right from the beginning of the tournament, Hernandez maintained consistency in his game and did not allow his rivals to come close to him on the leaderboard.
He marked a stunning start to his campaign by firing a six-under par 65 in the opening round, followed by a 71 on day two.
He then added another under-par score to his scorecard, by carding a two-under par 69 in the third round. The final round witnessed him holding his nerves tight, as he finished way ahead of his rivals on the leaderboard.
Talking about his performance in the tournament, he expressed his pleasure in retaining the top spot throughout the week.
According to the golf commentators, his driving technique, complemented by his game on the greens, was the main factor behind his success in the tournament.
Throughout the week, he kept on creating birdie chances and his brilliant short game allowed him to put a number of birdie circles on his scorecard.
He now plans to keep the momentum going into the 2013 golf season, in a bid to improve his resume, prior to turning professional.
Tommy Mou, who won the 2010 edition of the New Years Invitational, finished third on the leaderboard, after carding a four-under par tournament score.
Mou started his campaign on a high note, after firing a five-under par 66 in the opening round. Entering the second round, he was sharing the second spot on the leaderboard.
However, a couple of 70s in the second and the third round made it difficult for him to contend for the top spot. The final round witnessed him falter for a 73, which completely ruined his chances to compete for a victory in the event.
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