Celestino clinches Faldo crown at TAT

MANILA, Philippines – Celestino booked his place in the Faldo Series Asia grand final following a wire-to-wire victory in the second Faldo Series Philippines Championship held recently at TAT Filipinas Golf Club in San Pedro, Laguna.

After taking the first round lead, the 18-year-old Celestino, playing out of Eagle Ridge, showed his class on day two with an even-par round of 72, the lowest round of the tournament. He then cruised to a 75 in the third and final round to finish at 223, three ahead of overall runner-up Agustin Mata.

The 16-year-old Mata claimed the boys’ Under-16 title on 226 and will join Celestino at the Grand Final in China, to be hosted by Nick Faldo at Mission Hills Golf Club next March.

Princess Superal, 13, was a convincing winner in the girls’ category to claim the third and final automatic qualifying spot at Mission Hills. She posted a 235 aggregate, five ahead of Mia Legaspi, for her third straight win since topping her age-group in the Asia-Pacific meet in Bangalore, India.

More than 50 joined the Philippine qualifying at TAT Filipinas, a 30-minute drive from Manila and known for its environmental sustainability and social programs but last year’s winner Jobim Carlos was not among them. Carlos opted to play in Singapore along with the other members of the ICTSI pool.

The Faldo Series, which served as the seventh leg of the ICTSI Jungolf Summer Circuit organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, is also sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Pancake House Group, Teriyaki Boy and Sizzilin Pepper as major sponsors.

The other sponsors are Dynamic Sports and Leisure Corp., McDonald’s, Smart, Golf Depot and Pioneer Insurance.

Underwritten by six-time Major winner Faldo, the Faldo Series Asia is supported by major partners ISPS, Mission Hills and The R&A as well as official golf wear partner Alpine Creations. It is also endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Federation (APGF).