Clark Sonnenberg saved the best for last as he set two tournament records on the way to a convincing victory in the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on Sunday.

The 18-year-old won the 54-hole event by a comfortable eight shots and his final round of 66 and total of eight under (205) were both tournament records.

Victory was especially sweet for the American as it was his first time competing on the American Junior Golf Association tour.

“This is my first AJGA win and I am super excited,” an elated Sonnenberg told The Royal Gazette.

“Every kid here, if you ask them what’s the best golf tour, they’d say AJGA because they have the best tournaments, best courses and best players.

“Everyone that plays junior golf, their goal is to win one of these and now I can say I have done it, which is super exciting.”

Starting the final round with a comfortable five-shot advantage at the top of the leaderboard, Sonnenberg produced his best round of the week, which included five birdies and an eagle.

“I had a five-stroke lead but everyone knows that can go away in two holes, so I knew I had to focus still,” he added.

Sonnenberg got off to flying start, playing the front nine at four under after carding three birdies and an eagle at the par 5 seventh.

“I never took my foot off the gas pedal,” he said.

“I had ten putts on the front nine, everything was going in and I just kept playing good golf.”

The player was just as steady coming in with two additional birdies on the back nine allowing him to eclipse the previous record of 67, set by fellow American and previous winner Dylan Bingwen Ma during last year’s inaugural tournament at the Southampton layout.

“I really like the course and it lined up well with my game,” added Sonneberg, who held a share of the lead after the opening round before grasping it for good in the second.

“A lot of the holes suited my eye with the driver and I was hitting wedges and putter. I putted really good on these greens and that is important to win.”

William Lisle, of Hong Kong, finished second at even par with Americans Matthew Lin and Joshua Wang rounding off the top three finishers at three over .

Lisle and Lin carded the second-lowest round of the day with 69s.

Also coming in under par was Bermuda’s Oliver Betschart, who carded a one-under 70, his best score of the week, to finish tied for sixth at six-over 219.

“I felt good out there,” said the 15-year-old whose round included three birdies. “I played solid out there.

“I still didn’t putt as well as I had liked, but I am pretty happy with my result.

“Obviously I would have liked to have done better that first day, but there’s nothing I can do with it now. You just have to live with it and own it.”

Betschart topped the local contingent in the boys division which featured Dylan Muso, Arman Newton and Sa-Qui Robinson.

Also claiming a first win on the AJGA tour and setting tournament records was girls champion Carlee Meilleur, who prevailed by three shots.

The Canadian earned a share of the tournament-low round with 68 on the first day while her combined score of even par beat the previous record held by inaugural winner Ein Kim by fourteen shots.

“This is my AJGA win and it feels crazy,” Meilleur said. “It’s also my first time competing overseas so lots of firsts.

“I haven’t had a win in a long time and for my first destination tournament and my first tournament of 2024 it’s pretty awesome.”

Overnight leader Meilleur held a four-shot advantage and kept it together over the final 18 holes to seal the deal.

“The conditions were a little wet but the course held up really nicely,” she added. “I was able to just play my game and play shot by shot.

“It was a little frightening but I was able to finish it well. I just stayed calm and didn’t change anything. I had my routines and knew what I had to do.”

Among those congratulating Meilleur was her Bermudian friend Betschart.

“That was amazing what she accomplished,” he said. “Leading all the way through the tournament and closing it off good. I am very proud of her.”

American Samantha Chiou, who held a share of the lead with Meilleur after the opening round, and Canadian Ann-Sophie Bourgault finished tied for second at three-over 216.

Defending champion Kim finished fourth a farther two shots back.

Sienna Mosquera, the only local in the girls division, finished at the bottom of the leaderboard at 46 over.