Nobilio, Spitz and Ji win Youth Olympic Games Medals

32 European players represented their countries in the individual events at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires last week.

On day one, the Italian players took the lead in both the boys' and girls' events. Alessia Nobilio, who won the European Girls' Team Championship earlier this year with Italy, took a two'shot lead by starting her title challenge with a two-under-par 68, while Andrea Romano found himself in a three-way tie for the lead on level-par in the boys'.

Nobilio dropped back to level-par after round two, finding herself tied for the lead with eventual winner, Grace Kim of Australia, while Austria's Emma Spitz moved up the leaderboard at the challenging Hurlingham Golf Club with a round of level-par.

In the final round, Nobilio carded a four-over-par 74 to finish on a total of 214, tied for second place with Yuka Saso of the Philippines, the only player to shoot under par in the final round, and Spitz.

This meant a three-way playoff would decide who claimed the silver and bronze medals. Only one extra hole was required. Nobilio birdied the par-four first to win silver for Italy, while a par from Spitz was enough to secure bronze for Austria.

In the boys', Australi's Karl Vilips won gold, returning three under-par rounds to reach four-under-par and claim a two-shot victory over the USA's Akshay Bhatia.

After round two, it looked like Nicola Gerhardsen of Switzerland represented the best chance for a European medal, sitting on level-par just one shot behind third place.

The Netherlands' Jerry Ji, who claimed bronze at the European Amateur Championship this year in his home country, was tied for seventh on three-over-par with the European Amateur Champion, Nicolai Hojgaard, heading into the last round.

Although a fine two-under-par 68, matching the lowest score of the week, earned Ji third place and the bronze medal for the Netherlands.