Fullerton’s Noe Adds U.S. Title to South Korean Amateur Crown

WESTFIELD, N.J. —  Terry Noe of Fullerton, a resident of the United States for less than two years, defeated fellow Californian Andy Barnes, 2-up, on Saturday to win the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Noe was the 1992 South Korean national junior champion, but he had played in only two tournaments previously in this country. Noe’s victory earned him a spot in the U.S. Amateur Championship next month.

Barnes, of Stockton, took the lead on the first hole, holing a sand shot for birdie. Noe drew even with a par on the short par-four second, then Barnes parred the third to regain the lead.

Noe birdied the fifth and parred the eighth for a 1-up lead, then moved to 2-up with a par on 13.

Barnes won the 15th, but Noe’s birdie on 16 gave him a 2-up lead with two holes to play. Barnes got one back at 17, but lost the 18th hole when he put his first two shots into the fairway rough.

Noe, playing in the tournament for the first time, eliminated Mauricio Muniz of Puerto Rico, 5 and 3, in the morning semifinal. Barnes defeated Charles Howell of Augusta, Ga., 1-up.