Norman Xiong brings home Junior Ryder Cup win

Canyon Laker Norman Xiong was a member of the United States team that won its fifth straight Junior Ryder Cup with a 15-1/2 to 8-1/2 victory over Europe at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota early this week. Norman finished the tournament 1 up.

“One team won and one team did not,” said United States Junior Ryder Cup Captain Jim Remy during the closing ceremony, as he accepted the Junior Ryder Cup Trophy from PGA President Derek Sprague. “Yet, golf won today. This was a tremendous championship.”

An official press release stated that, with nine of the 12 players on the U.S. team ranked among the Top 10 junior boys and girls in the world, the American squad built off a 7 to 5 lead amassed the day before in foursomes and mixed four-ball. It was an impressive performance by the Americans, as they won the singles matches by a solid five points, 8-1/2 to 3-1/2.

Players from both teams were scheduled to play a Friendship Match at the Hazeltine National Golf Club on Wednesday. Norman was teamed up with Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen, Julia Engstrom and Alyaa Abdulghany in a team named “Whistling Straits.”

The 2018 Junior Ryder Cup will be held at Disneyland Golf near Paris, in conjunction with the 42nd Ryder Cup.