Palanca nears second US Kids Euro triumph

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Carlos Philippe Winsett Palanca moved on the brink of a second straight victory in the US Kids European Championship after taking a three-stroke lead in the boys 8 years division heading into the final round at the Longnidry Golf Club course here.

Palanca bucked the extreme cold to shoot 9-hole rounds of 35 and 33 in the first two days to seize control with a three-under-par aggregate of 68, putting the grandson of sportsman Honey Boy in a position for a back-to-back romp in this annual competition.

Palanca, who prepared himself for the tourney by playing in ICTSI jungolf summer circuit organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, will have to contend with the same British kid whom he beat for last year’s 7 years division title.

Jake Craddock of the United Kingdom set himself up for another last day showdown with the Filipino ace with a 35 at a 1,800-yard layout designed for their age-group to move up to solo second three shots behind at 71.

Two Americans, Dylan Fritz and Digjav Gill, were in a three-way tie for third with Slovenia’s Patrick Gal Stirn in the select field of 32 qualifiers. Fritz shot 35-38, Gill 36-37 and Stirn 37-36.

Should Philippe go on to win on Thursday, he will compete in the Van Horn Cup at Gullane No 1 – a showpiece event, modelled on the Ryder Cup, where the best European players are pitted against the top non-Europe golfers. The top five finishers in each age and gender group will automatically receive an invitation to the US Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst Golf Club, North Carolina, in August.

Palanca beat Craddock and Kian Luke Rose by a mere stroke last year, a feat that earned him an award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association.