Max Orrin. Picture By Tom Ward.

Orrin makes golfing history

Greg Miles, Twitter: greg_KOS_sport Tuesday, May 29, 2012
5:14 PM

Teenager from Thanet becomes first Englishman to win junior tournament.

Gollfer Max Orrin has made history after becoming the first English player to win the prestigious Thunderbird International Junior in America.

The 18 year-old from North Foreland, carded a final round of 69 for a 54-hole total of 206, ten under par, and a five-stroke winning margin from A J McInerney and six clear of third-placed Korean-born Tae Wan Lee to win the title at the Grayhawk club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This is Orrin’s biggest victory to date against an international field. His previous success came last year in the Andalucia Junior Open in Spain.

But Orrin has been in good form all season, finishing runner-up in the Darwin Salver and the McEvoy Trophy as well as being a member of the winning team in the Nations Cup at the Fairhaven Trophies.

At Grayhawk, an opening 70 left him two shots off the lead held by Lee but a second round 67 saw him two strokes clear of Lee and McInerney going into the final day.

Then, his 69 saw Orrin increase his advantage as his two main rivals failed to better par and slipped down the leaderboard.