Tee-time mix-up ruins Palanca bid

EDINBURGH, Scotland – A tee-time mix-up spoiled the championship bid of Carlos Philippe Winsett Palanca but the Filipino kid turned despair into an inspiring show in the final round Thursday to salvage a tie for fourth place in the US Kids European Championship at the Longnidry Golf Club course here.

Palanca, leading after the first two rounds by three strokes, was slapped the maximum 10-stroke penalty for arriving late for his tee off, a development that came as a shock to his mom Wednesday and caddie/coach Sylvia Torres who never knew of an adjustment made on the starting times.

Under US Kids rules, players late to tee are not disqualified but are assessed 10 strokes each for every hole they missed.

As soon as he walked into the course and join the final flight, Palanca still managed to put the pressure. He scored 30, two under par, on the eight holes he played and could have easily won the title even if he double-bogeyed the first hole.

Digjav Gill, an American kid of Indian descent, won the title. He shot a four-under 32 for 105, beating Debore Quentin of France and Jake Craddock of UK by two. Palanca’s 40 put him in a tie with Lewis Brown of UK at 108 in the 32-player field.

Torres couldn’t believe how Palanca managed to compose himself despite the thought of having losing it with a 10 right on the first hole.