8.31.2009

byeong-hun an is u.s. amateur's youngest champion

On Sunday, 17-year-old golfer Byeong-Hun An defeated a field of top college players to become the youngest champion in U.S. Amateur history: US Amateur champ is youngest ever - again - at 17.

An, who was born in South Korea and is currently a high school student in Florida, defeated Clemson senior Ben Martin 7 and 5 in the 36-hole final yesterday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Yet another youngest champ! An, who turns 18 on September 17, is about a month and a half younger than Danny Lee was when he broke Tiger Woods' record last year to become the U.S. Amateur's youngest champion.

The kid's got competition in his blood. Byeong-hun is the son of An Jae-hyung and Jiao Zhimin, both Olympic medalists in table tennis in the 1988 Seoul games: Teenage Golf Star Is the Son of Ping-Pong Champions.

After taking the trophy, he apparently celebrated in the clubhouse with a Shirley Temple. Champagne will have to wait for a couple of years. That is, until the next youngest champion comes along.

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