Singaporean takes crack at 2 crowns

Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang fired a 71 yesterday to put himself in a good spot to win two major titles, but Angela Erika de Villa and Rafael Francisco were the first winners in the sixth Samsung Philippine International Junior Golf Championship.

Choo, a 15-year-old junior at the Breddell-Westlake back home, tamed the par 72, 6,774-yard Wack Wack East course on nines of 35 and 36 and he likes the prospects.

"I enjoyed the golf course today," he told sportswriters. "And I like the prospects of not only retaining the Class A crown but also winning the overall championship."

De Villa pieced together nines of 50 and 52 for 102 to run away with the girls’ beginners’ class crown while Francisco shot 139 on 65 and 74 to also post an easy victory in the boys’ division, each set for 18 holes.

The Philippines’ J.R. Tanpico started his defense of the special division title with an 80 despite tonsillitis, but he has to share the lead with South Korea’s Son Hyeon Ho.

Thailand’s Hinmoratanakorn Anujit came up with a 76 to pace the boys’ Class B. Malaysia’s Ng Choo Sion Daniel took second place after an 80. South Korea’s Shim Jun Bo and Koh Dhengshan of Singapore were tied for third with 82s.

Mike Arroyo, the first Gentleman, and Sang Youl Eom, the Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. president and chief executive officer, hit the ceremonial drives to officially kick off the event.

A big crowd witnessed the occasion, including Philippine Junior Golf Federation president Edgardo "Boy" Cantada, who launched the event in 1998.

Aside from Samsung as the title sponsor, other supporters are Cebu Pacific, Wilson Sports, Morelia Tours and Travel Inc., Herma Group of Companies, Pagcor.

Mitsubishi Motors, Bingo Bonanza, Toyota Otis, Pisanti Golf, Philippine Flour Mills, Rizal Rep. Gilberto Duavit, Takanobu Taira, Airlift Asia Inc., Raul Jorge, Sysu International, Absolute Distilled Water, Gatorade and EDSA Shangri-La.

Seventy six players–41 foreigners and 35 locals–are competing this year. The best scorer in the Classes A and B will also win the overall championship.

Choo had a good starts as he made a 25-footer to birdie the first hole. The other birds came on the fifth after a great chip, the 12th from 10 and 18 from eight.

What marred the day’s only subpar round were Choo’s bogeys on the seventh from the bunker, the 10th from over the green and the 15th after chipping poorly.

"I know full well that the East course is the home of your No. 1 tournament, the Philippine Open, and I feel great," Choo said. I hope I will feel the same the next three days."