Date: October 30, 2019
Author: Martin Blake

Vilips all-American again

 

Australian Karl Vilips has won first-team all-American junior honors for the third time, rounding out his high school career.

Vilips, 18, has been studying in Florida since he was 11 but retains his Australian citizenship, winning a gold medal at the Youth Olympics last year. In December, he will represent the International team at the Junior Presidents Cup.

He has committed to a college career at Stanford University when he graduates in 2020.

Vilips made the quarter-finals of the US amateur this year and is one of Australia’s brightest young prospects, currently 34th on the world amateur rankings.

Previously he has won two junior world titles in the 10 years and 12 year age groups, and at junior level won five American Junior Golf Association titles with Saddlebrook Preparatory School in Florida. He has been all-American a total of four years, including three times first team and once in second team.

A week ago, he dominated a junior field at the Bobby Chapman tournament in South Carolina, winning by seven shots.