Cassy Isagawa has won the 35th Junior PGA Championship with a par putt on the third playoff hole.
The 16-year-old resident of Wailuku, Hawaii, defeated Ginger Howard of Bradenton, Fla., at Sycamore Hills Golf Club on Thursday.
Both finished the 54-hole tournament at 3-under 213 after shooting final-round 69s on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course that hosted the tournament for the first time. Isagawa watched her birdie putt from 8 feet lip out on the second playoff hole before capturing the title.
''I was really nervous all three playoff holes,'' Isagawa said. ''I've never been that nervous my whole life. When my putt lipped out on 17, I told myself, 'It's OK, I have the 18th and I have played that hole enough this week,''' Isagawa said.
Denny McCarthy of Burtonsville, Md., won the boys event by shooting a 69 to finish at 9 under. He was three strokes better than 2008 champion Anthony Paolucci. McCarthy posted a final-round 69. Paolucci, from Del Mar, Calif., shot a 68.
''Yeah, I felt really good,'' McCarthy said. ''I got off to a hot start, birdied the first hole, eagled the second hole, then birdied 4, 5, 6. I felt really comfortable out there. I was hitting the ball well, rolling it really well. Obviously when you get a start like that your confidence is obviously boosted.''
The tournament was shortened to three rounds after Tuesday's rounds were canceled because of rain.
