New Zealand’s Joshua Bai has finished just short of winning the US Junior Amateur championship with Bryan Kim claiming a dramatic 2-up victory.
Kim led when the 36-hole final was suspended Saturday, fell behind when the players returned Sunday and then went back ahead for good by winning the 35th hole.
Bai was attempting to become the fourth New Zealander to win a USGA championship, joining Michael Campbell, Danny Lee and Lydia Ko.
The victory earned 18-year-old Kim an exemption into the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 next June.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Kim, who was playing in his third US Junior Amateur but had not made match play in his previous two. “Especially coming into this week, I hadn’t made a cut at a USGA event, but to not only make the cut but win all six of my matches, especially against all these great competitors, it just means the world.”