American teenager Cory Whitsett followed in the footsteps of Tiger Woods by winning the US junior title aged 15 in Augusta, Missouri yesterday.

In an all-Texan final at Boone Valley Golf Club, Houston resident Whitsett crushed Dallas-based Anthony Paolucci 8 & 7.

Left-hander Whitsett became the fifth 15-year-old to clinch the prestigious title after Woods (1991), Sihwan Kim (2004), Henry Liaw (2001) and Mike Brannan (1971).

"It's going to be pretty cool to know that no matter what happens my name will be there," Whitsett said. "I wanted to go out and win if I had come this far. I played well enough, which is basically all that matters."

Hockey - Pakistan ask for Australia probe

Pakistan's hockey chiefs have asked the International Hockey Federation to look into claims that Australia has sent security warnings to teams due to compete in the Champions Trophy in Lahore.

Olympic Champions Australia pulled out of the six-nation event citing security concerns for their players, which prompted the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to lodge a protest with the FIH.

"We have taken up this matter with the FIH and our own government because we believe Australia should not try to influence other teams on their decision to play in Pakistan," Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, the PHF president said.

India has already told the FIH it is willing to host the Champions Trophy, scheduled for December, if Pakistan is deemed unsuitable.

Tennis - Monaco wins Austrian Open title

Argentine fifth seed Juan Monaco picked up his third career title yesterday with a 5-7 6-3 6-4 Austrian Open win over Italian tenth seed Potito Starace.

Monaco, whose three ATP Tour wins have all been won this season and on clay, was forced to come from behind after squandering an early break and two opening set points.

The world number 32 rallied with a late break of Starace's serve to take the second set. He then shaded a nervy deciding set, breaking Starace twice either side of being broken once himself.