MANILA, Philippines - South Korean Cho Dae Hyung bucked the late charge posted by Thailand’s Natipong Srithong to secure the centerpiece Class A title in the ninth Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Philippine International Junior Golf Championships yesterday at the Canlubang course.
Cho started the day four strokes ahead of his Thai rival after opening with a two-under 70, saw Srithong move within two after nine holes, and simply steadied himself for a 75 and 145 total in the 15-17 years old group of this event organized by the Philippine Junior Golf Federation.
A bogey and a double-bogey on the back nine gave the Thai a one-over 73 and a runner-up finish at 147.
Marco Olives struggled with an 80 but still ran away with the Special Division title. Together with his impressive first-day of three-under 69, Olives finished with a 149 total followed by Gabriel Villareal (81-82-163) in the 18-21 age bracket.
In Class B, Khemkhhon Limbhasut simply matched the 77 of Dittakorn Chuwong for a 1-2 Thai finish while Leon D’Souza of Hong Kong needed a playoff win over Gen Nagai of Cebu to snatch the Class C trophy. D’Souza carded a final-day 84 to catch up with Nagai who shot an 87 for a 172 tie. Class D winner was local bet Gabriel Careon.
In the distaff side, Stephanie Olea of Cebu (78-81-159) beat Charlene Avaricio of Manila (97-92-189) for the 13-21 age crown while Ericka Lim of Cebu rallied with a 94-96-190 effort to edge Alyeska Ynam also of Cebu (92-99-191) for the 12-and-under title.