JERSEY CITY – One clutch bunker shot on the final hole propelled the Garden State’s own Aphrodite Deng to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) championship at the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City.
“I was trying not to top it and hit the lip,” Deng, a 15-year-old from Short Hills, said of the shot. “I was just trying to get it close to the green so I could get up-and-down, but it ended up rolling pretty close.”
That bunker shot allowed Deng to make par on the closing hole to secure the two points she needed in the modified Stableford Scoring format that the AJGA was using for their portion of the Mizuho Americas Open, to top second-place finisher Anna Fang, by one point.
Deng was not perfect on Sunday. She did make three birdies, but Deng also carded a double bogey to close out the front nine and recorded three bogies in a row on holes 15, 16, and 17 coming down the final homestretch. However, as evidenced by her clutch play on 18, she made the shots she needed when needed.
“Yeah, today was really scary at the end because I made three bogeys in a row,” Deng said of those three bogeys, “but I just tried to stay calm, and it ended up working out.”
Deng added, “During the final round, I was just trying to hit each shot and play my own game.”
Finally, the home-state win made Deng’s tournament victory extra special. “Yeah, it was really special with a lot of people coming out to watch, my friends and family,” Deng said of winning close to home.
Thitikul Takes Mizuho Americas Open LPGA Crown
Jeeno Thitikul took the Mizuho Americas Open title on the LPGA side of the tournament, topping Celine Boutier by four strokes.
Thitikul, who said the key for her Sunday was to at least make par, scored a bogey-free, 3-under-par 69 on the final day at Liberty National to finish at -17 for the tournament.
“Yeah, I mean, actually, I have no idea how I can do out there. I mean, bogey-free on the final round, final group, as well, because the pin positions were so tough today, as well,” Thitikul said of her round, later adding, “I just really told myself to be patient out there. I know I was just trying to keep my ball where I have a chance to make it, but if I not make it, I’m fine because I know not every putt or not only hole that we’re going to make it for sure.”
And, with her two previous top-10 finishes in Jersey City, and with her consistent play up to this point this year, it seemed as though Thitikul was destined to take the Mizuho Americas Open crown this weekend.
“Yeah, I mean, knowing the course pretty well, it’s good. But you have to see how your performance or your golf was going to be solid for you out there,” Thitikul said of her previous results at Liberty Notional, adding, “I know I had good finishes last couple years, but I don’t really know coming into this week that I’m going to win.”
Thitikul will look for another win in New Jersey as she is scheduled to return to the Garden State June 6-8 for the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer at the Seaview Bay Course in Galloway. World No. 1 and Mizuho Americas Open participant, Nelly Korda, is also scheduled to compete in Galloway.
