By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Poitier sisters completed their tour of the United States on Tuesday with Zaire winning the girls’ 10-11 age group at the State Farm Youth Classic in Bloomington, Illinois. 

She shot a new personal best of 83 to end the two-day competition with a total of 177 for an 18-stroke lead over the rest of the field. 

Twin sisters Zion and Zeden shot 89 and 97 for fifth and sixth respectively in the girls’ 10-11 category.

It was the last of seven tournaments the sisters participated in over the past month. 

“I think I did great. I got a lot of birdies, an eagle and a lot of pars,” said the 10-year-old Zaire about her performance. “The highlight for me was when I made an eagle on the last hole to win.”

The nine-year-old twins were just as enthused about their performances.

“The highlight of the trip for me was my drive, chip and putt,” said Zeden. “I really enjoyed the trip.”

Zion said the highlight for her was her win in Quincy.

“This trip was great. I won in Quincy, Illinois at the Pepsi Little People’s Championships when I scored a 39,” she said. 

Their father, Philip, called it a great trip. 

“They had a lot of advanced play in the group. It was very technical,” he said. 

“In one of the tournaments, there was a little girl, who was a little taller than Zaire, I think Zaire was admiring and studying her technique and she used that to win at State Farm today.

“They’re still having fun and learning how to develop their technique. So I was very pleased with their performances.”

And mother Denise said they accomplished their mission. “We had seven tournaments and they had some goals in mind,” she pointed out. “Each of the girls got a big win and that was a real boost of confidence for them. “So coming back home, they know the things that they need to work on and continue to excel and be ready for when we leave at the end of next month for the Kids World Championships in San Diego.”

At the US kids Local tour at the Ocean Club on May 18th, the sisters qualified for the Kids World Championships, scheduled for July 29 to August 2.

Zaire won the Irvine Cup in Trinidad that got her entry to State Farm and now she has won that as well, while Zion won in Quincy, Illinois to qualify for the JUnior World Championships in San Diego.