Riley Finishes 2 Strokes Back

Chris Riley’s final-round 68, impressive as it was, still left him two strokes behind Tiger Woods and Michael Walton in the Mission Hills Desert Junior Golf Tournament at Rancho Mirage.

Woods, a nationally-recognized teen from Cypress, won the tournament on the first playoff hole Thursday at the 6,899-yard Mission Hills Country Club course. He and Walton (Palm Desert) were tied at par 216 after 36 holes.

Riley, a June graduate of Patrick Henry High, finished at 218. His 68 was the low round for the tournament, but it came after a 77 on Tuesday and a 73 on Wednesday.

Michael Ruiz, another June graduate of Patrick Henry, ended in a four-way tie for fifth at 222 after shooting a final-round 76.

In the boys’ 13-14 division, second-round leader Greg Padilla of Rancho Santa Fe struggled a bit Thursday and finished second, five strokes behind Andy Hastings of Spokane, Wash., who finished six-over at 222. Padilla shot an 81 Thursday, Hastings 75.

In the girls’ division, Jill Wery of Mission Bay High shot 80 and ended at 243, well behind winner Kellee Booth of Coto De Caza, who finished at 221.

Elizabeth Bowman of Bonita shot a par 71 and jumped to second after two rounds in the 16th U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at the 5,875-yard, Haggin Oaks course in Sacramento.

Bowman, whose two-day total is 143, trails Heather Hughes of Palo Alto by two strokes.

San Diego’s Susan Pankau is tied for 14th at 150.