Superal heads US Kids qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran internationalist Princess Superal coasted to victory with a closing two-over-par 74 – her worst score that still proved to be the best for the final round – even as Pauline del Rosario and Ashia Marie Nocum rallied to claim their respective divisions in the US Kids World Championship Philippine Qualifier at the Player course of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

After rounds of 72 and 73 at her home course, Superal battled an intermittent downpour with a 74 and claimed the girls 12 years with plenty to spare.

Nocum shot an 84-264 to edge Kristine Torralba for the 8 years division while del Rosario’s 80-249 won her the 10 years plum ahead of two-day leader Abby Arevalo and Annika Cedo.

Ria Kamille Atienza (9 years), Joan Hortelano (11 years), Felicia Medalla (13 years), Jonah Paula Ilagan (14 years) and Joanne Malabag (15-18 years) were the other girls winners in the well-attended tourney which selected the country’s bets to the US Kids World Championship proper in Pinehurst, North Carolina this coming August.

“We’re just overwhelmed by the support of the jungolfers to this inaugural tourney. We hope to make it bigger and bigger in the coming years,” said Joey Mendoza, president of Great Depot, Inc. which organized the event together with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

Malayan Insurance also supported the event which had as boys winners Josh Jorge (6 under), Youn Woo Zoo (7 years), Alex Delfin Trinos (8 years), Ryan Monsalve (9 years), Kristoffer Arevalo (10 years), Rupert Zaragosa (11 years), Mark Anthony Arevalo (12 years), Miguel Alfonso Shah (13 years), Daniel Ekegren (14 years) and Andres Saldana (15-18).

Zaragosa was the low medalist among the boys with his 75-223.

Philippe Winsett-Palanca, who became the country’s first-ever US Kids European champion, was feted during the awards ceremony graced by Jungolf chairman Gerry Handog.

The Philippine qualifier which also winds up the summer campaign of local jungolfers after the eight-leg circuit in various courses is one of the activities hatched by Great Depot to support the country’s junior golf program.