Shim defeats Liu for U.S. Junior title

After falling 5-down through the first 18 holes of the championship match at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, Andy Shim of Duluth, Ga., began the second 18 by winning eight of the first 10 holes to take a 3-up lead on fellow AJGA player Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y. He went on to win 4 and 3 for his first victory of the 2012 season.

One year ago, Shim qualified for match play, but lost on the 23rd hole in the round of 64. On his way to the 2012 finals, he defeated stroke-play medalist Nicholas Echavarria and was able to overcome a five-hole deficit to 2010 champion Liu to secure his first USGA championship.

Currently No. 41 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Shim has three AJGA victories in his three-year career. His last win came at the 2011 Burgett H. Mooney, Jr. Rome Classic. Recently he recorded top-10 finishes at the FJ Invitational and the Rolex Tournament of Champions.