West Claims Sixth
Straight Canon Cup
Winless in her first three matches, Rachel
Morris’ bittersweet junior golf finale was more
bitter than sweet after two days at the American
Junior Golf Association’s Canon Cup. Even so,
the three-time Canon Cup West team selection
was slotted in the anchor role in the girls’ singles
match, one that would almost surely help break
the 15-15 tie by day’s end at Old Sandwich Golf
Club in Plymouth, Mass.
By mid-afternoon, Morris wasn’t the one
to break the tie – she was the one who put the
finishing touches on the West’s sixth consecutive
Canon Cup victory, defeating the East’s Karen
Chung, 2 and 1, and marking the West’s final
point in the 25. 5-24. 5 win.
“There was a lot of pressure,” said Morris, who
will attend the University of Southern California in
the fall. “My heart was racing, but I wanted to do
well for my teammates and for me.”
Standing on the par- 3 17th tee with 7-iron in
hand, Morris knew the West was leading, but didn’t
know she could post the deciding point. She hit
the green and after Chung failed to get up and in, a
two-putt par set off the unexpected celebration.
“You don’t get into that type of situation a lot
where all the pressure is on you,” Morris said.
“But when you do, and you succeed, it feels
really cool. To be able to step up, under
pressure, is really awesome.”
The West improved to 12-8-1 all-time in the
AJGA’s only team match-play competition. The
20-player teams ( 10 boys and 10 girls) competed
in four-ball and mixed foursome on Tuesday,
foursome and mixed four-ball on Wednesday
before Thursday’s decisive singles matches.
Chris Richards
