Graniteville, South Carolina, United States: The wait for the first Asia-Pacific winners of the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley continues.

Attempts to break the duck in the 14th edition of the boys’ event and the fourth iteration of the girls’ championship fell narrowly short at Sage Valley Golf Club.

For the second year in succession, New Zealand’s Joshua Bai had to content himself with a third-place finish. Leader after three rounds, Bai was overhauled by American prodigy Miles Russell.

While Russell fired a third consecutive two-under 70 for a four-round aggregate of nine-under 279, Bai saw his hopes evaporate with a closing 77, which included costly double-bogeys at the par-three 16th and par-four 18th.

Bai’s Nomura Cup team-mate Robby Turnbull finished strongly, climbing to fourth on 283. He was followed by the Vietnamese duo of Nguyen Anh Minh (tied 19th, 295) and Le Khanh Hung (21st, 296).

The other Asia-Pacific players in the elite 36-strong field were Indian Kartik Singh (tied 22nd, 297), Indonesian Rayhan Latief (28th, 300) and Thai Thanawin Lee (tied 30th, 302).

In the girls’ division, three Asia-Pacific representatives finished in the top-four, behind Canadian Aphrodite Ding, whose seven-under 281 total gave her a six-stroke success.

In second place was China’s Liu Yujie with Korean Oh Soo-min and Thai Pimpisa Rubrong, the half-way leader, in a share of third place on even-par 288.

For Oh, ninth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, it was another near miss following her runner-up finish in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Vietnam a fortnight ago.

In the 24-player girls’ line-up at Sage Valley, Thai Achiraya Sriwong ended 15th on 306 after a closing 75 while Australian Sarah Hammett was 21st on 314, signing off with a disappointing 84, including three sevens on her card.

Oh, Achiraya and Hammett will now have their sights set on the Augusta National Women’s Amateur which tees-off on April 2.