Debbie youngest RP Open champ

Teener Debbie de Villa enhanced her promising golfing career by becoming the youngest Philippine Ladies Open champion yesterday, humbling the big guns with a solid game in the early going then thwarting Korean Lee Seo-jae in the closing holes to win by one with a two under-par 69.

The 15-year-old De Villa kept the momentum of her solid 71 in the second round that netted her a one-stroke lead over Lee as she birdied three of the first four holes in a fiery start that virtually cushioned the impact of her bogey-bogey finish at the Manila Golf Club.

The ninth grader at the International School actually went five-under after birdying Nos. 12 and 14, showing grace under pressure when Lee pressed her bid with a stirring three-birdie string from No. 10. But the Korean, who also closed out with a 69, self-destructed with two bogeys on the last four holes, enabling De Villa to capture the coveted crown despite dropping three strokes in the same stretch.

De Villa, who opened with a so-so 73, finished with a 213.

"It’s a dream come true for me," said De Villa, who came into the event aiming for just a top 10 finish after placing 12th last year.

The victory also made De Villa, who honed up her talent and skills in the World Juniors in San Diego and under the tutelage of noted swing guru Bong Lopez, the youngest winner of this premier event at 15, besting two other compatriots for the honors.

Two-time LPGA winner Jennifer Rosales, the lone Filipina campaigner in the lucrative circuit, was 16 when she annexed the first of a record five-straight RP Ladies Open titles in 1994, while Carmelette Villaroman won at age 17 in 1993.

"I’m so happy," added De Villa.

That could not be said of Lee, who had hoped to force a playoff when De Villa, two-up heading into the par-5 18th, hit her second shot into the woods and needed to play out before she two-putted for bogey. Lee, however, could only put her approach shot to about 20 feet, failing to knock in a tying birdie putt from an uphill lie. She had a 214.

Demi Mak took third place with a 219 after a 73 while Frances Bondad, winner here in 2004, failed to unleash a strong finishing kick and made a 74-220, settling for fourth place in this event sponsored by the First Gentleman Foundation, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Pagcor, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Airlines, Philippine Sports Commission and Banco de Oro Private Banking.

It was actually a double celebration for the De Villa family as 11-year-old Angela, Debbie’s younger sister, won the Class B crown with a closing 78 for a 256 and a two-shot victory over Sunshine Baraquel, marking the first time that siblings won two of the division titles disputed. Baraquel had a 257 after an 88.

However, the third and the eldest among the golfing De Villas, 17-year-old Linnel, finished joint fourth in Class A ruled by Crystabel Goj of Singapore.

Rounding up the top finishers in the championship division were Cristina Corpuz (72-221), Lora Roberto (77-224), Woo Young-kyung (71-226), Reb Bareng (76-226), Thuhashini Selavaratnam (78-226), Dottie Ardina (75-227) and Mia Piccio (74-228).