Golf: Beck gets final hole birdie to secure 2nd in Scotland

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Israeli teenage star Laetitia Beck has put in another superb performance, finishing second by only one stroke in the prestigious Duke of York Young Champions Invitational 2009. The 17-year-old scored 71, 74 and 74 in her three rounds on the par 72 Dundonald Links course in Ayreshire, Scotland, last week, losing the title to 15-year-old 2008 British Open Junior Champion Moriya Juntanugarn of Thailand. Beck's final three holes on Thursday, where she scored par, par and a birdie, illustrated her skill and composure, as she knew she needed to pull back a stroke on the final hole to secure second place. After a well placed drive of some 250 yards off the final tee, Beck was left with almost 235 yards to the green, protected by a water hazard in the front. Without any hesitation she confidently chose her 3 wood and hit the ball almost pin high on the left of the green. A chip and a putt was all she needed and she did so with perfection to the delight of the crowd, which included Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. Another Israeli prospect, 15-year-old Assaf Cohen was happy with his performance, scoring 82, 79, 79 in only his second time playing on a links golf course.