Hong Kong SAR, China: Defying morning downpours and an afternoon deluge, Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul and Cooper Moore were crowned Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Junior Championship winners.

Overcoming the elements at the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC), Thai Kritchanya and New Zealander Moore both savoured stunning come-from-behind successes on their first visits to the Special Administrative Region of China.

“Congratulations to Kritchanya and Cooper,” said Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman of the APGC. “They both produced outstanding performances in challenging conditions and are worthy champions. We look forward to following their progress in the years to come.”

With a closing 64 and a 54-hole total of 12-under 204, Kritchanya edged Korean Park Seo-jin on a countback for the Girls’ title with Australian Raegan Denton one shot back in third. Hong Kong’s Arianna Lau, bidding for a third straight APGC Junior Girls’ title, had to settle for fourth.

Meanwhile, in the Boys’ division, Moore birdied the final two holes for a 69 and a three-day tally of nine-under 204, two ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Tuan Anh and three in front of Thai Parin Sarasmut.

Following a 30-minute morning delay after heavy rain left puddles on fairways and greens, Kritchanya and Moore returned to the HKGC’s Old Course shortly after midday and managed to complete their rounds before the heavens opened again in mid-afternoon, forcing play to be suspended on all three courses at the Fanling venue.

Both displayed skill, nerve and impressive resilience to climb to the top of their respective leaderboards.

Kritchanya’s triumph was the most improbable. Five shots off the pace in seventh place overnight, the 17-year-old soared to the summit with a closing eight-under-par 64. In a remarkable denouement, she covered the final nine holes in seven-under 30, which included two eagles and seven threes.

Moore, who lost the lead on the final hole of day two when he took a double-bogey six after his drive went out of bounds, also had to dig deep. He missed short birdie putts on the opening two holes of the final round and then suffered a triple-bogey seven at the fourth.

With nine holes remaining, he was five strokes off the pace. “I felt I still had a chance and needed to be patient,” said Moore, who made light of the persistent rain to tour the back nine in four-under 32 and overhaul Tuan Anh and Parin.

For Kritchanya and Thailand there would be further cause for celebration.

In the Girls’ Team championship, Kritchanya and Prim Prachnakorn triumphed by two shots from Koreans Park and Yang Yun-seo. They compiled a three-day total of 20-under 412 in the event in which the scores of both players were counted each day.

Like Kritchanya, Prim also captured two titles, combining with Parin to top the standings in the Mixed Team event. Their 11-under 415 aggregate was one in front of the Korean duo of Park and Kang Seung-gu and meant Park had to content herself with three runner-up finishes.

In the Boys’ Team championship, Korea also had to settle for second place with Kang and Baek Seung-hwa being edged out by one shot by the China team of Yan Jinheng and Han Jin.

*Hong Kong Golf Club is a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.