Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - 190 young competitors participated in the LXI Youth Golf National Championship, which was played simultaneously at the El Tigre and Flamingos Golf courses in Riviera Nayarit from May the 6th to the 8th, attracting over 100 families and generating important income for the destination.

This tournament was the key to almost 200 kids hoping to improve their golfing careers. Over 64 Mexican golf clubs brought representatives as well as competitors from Ecuador and Guatemala hoping to win not only a trophy but also the possibility to earn entrance to some of the most important international summer tournaments such as the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship.

The Championship also served as a frame for the changes in the board of the Mexican Federation of Golf (FMG) for the period from 2011 to 2014, when in an emotional ceremony Jorge Kahwagi Gastine took the oath as new President.

The efforts by Paradise Village, through The Tiger Golf and Country Club and Flamingos Golf Club, to obtain this important event resulted in great benefits for Riviera Nayarit, since approximately 100 families came to the destination to support the competitors, each of them spending an average of $2400 USD over four days, for an approximate total of $240,000 dollars generated.

The performance of Gabriela Lopez and David Faraudo, both in the category from 14 to 18 years, were outstanding, by keeping the lead throughout the entire tournament on one of the most challenging courses in the country, El Tigre.

"We are extremely pleased by their scores," said Jorge Coghlan, President of the National Infantile and Juvenile Committee, the entity that sanctions the tournament. "We had a thrilling tournament and the performance of the national team members was very meritorious."

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

7 and under

Girls - Lauren Diana Olivares, from Álamo club from Celaya, took Alejandra Ferrer out of the lead and won the trophy by scoring 145 strokes, leaving Ferrer in second place 15 with strokes away. Camila Bosch, from Santa Anita golf club, ended in third place.

Boys - Mauricio Miranda, from Campestre de Chihuahua, undid the tie of the first two rounds and took the victory with only one stroke difference, 118 against 119, from Santiago Bonequi of Vallescondido. T Félix Feres, from La Loma at San Luis Potosí, took third place.

8-9 year olds

Girls - Valentina Bosch, from Santa Anita, turned out to be the champion with 105 strokes, Romina Villlanueva, from Vallescondido and Valentina Origel, from Santa Margarita, scored 111 for a tie in second place.

Boys - Though being lately under big pressure, Fernando Castillo, from La Herradura in Monterrey, won the category only one stroke apart from Christopher Islas, from Pachuca, and Leonardo Meníndez, of La Hacienda.

10-11 year olds

Girls - Isabella Fierro, from Playa Palmas, won with ten strokes ahead of Ana Carola Ramirez, from Pachuca, and 26 strokes ahead of Alison Luann Gastelum, from Campestre de Chihuahua.

Boys - In spite of losing his advantage on the final holes, Héctor Javier Barnetche, from Real 14 in Sonora, had his first victory in a National Tournament scoring 223 strokes; Luis Carrera, of La Hacienda, hit 225 for second place and Alejandro Madariaga, from La Vista on Puebla, scored 230 for third place.

12-13 year olds

Girls - Maria Balcázar, from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, made good the bets marking her as favorite and took the champion's trophy with a score of 226. Mónica Dibildox from Campestre de Saltillo scored 228 for second place, and Ana Paula Ramirez from Pachuca ended at third with a 234 stroke card.

Boys - Roberto Lebrija, from Campestre in Mexico City, finished first with an on regulation 216 strokes card. Víctor Daniel Sanchez, from Vallescondido, took 222 strokes for second place and Jorge Villar of La Vista scored 223 strokes for third place.

14-18 year olds

Girls - Gabriela Lopez from Club Mexico triumphed in this category with an outstanding 208 stroke performance, eight under par, signing 70, 67 and 71 stroke cards. Ana Paula Valdés from Tres Marías finished second - just 14 strokes behind, and Alejandra Arellano from Santa Gertrudis at Orizaba took third place.

Boys - Despite closing with a 74 round, David Faraudo from Guadalajara Country Club won the category three strokes under par, for a total of 213. Juan Carlos Benítez from La Vista had the best last round on Sunday (71) and ended in second place. Gonzalo Rubio from Las Misiones in Monterrey, took third.