Legaspi cops 4th crown in US Kids

MANILA, Philippines - Mia Legaspi rallied from three strokes down and captured the girls’ 11 year-olds title with a closing 71 at Pinehurst, North Carolina for her fourth US Kids World Championship crown over the weekend.

Legaspi finished with a 214 aggregate after earlier rounds of 75 and 68 as she nipped Haley Moore of the US by one stroke. Moore scored 71-70-74 for 215.

Legaspi, who played against 72 other kids in her division, moved one win away from tying the record haul of five titles established by ICTSI-backed Dottie Ardina from 2002-2006.

It was the second straight title in as many weeks for Legaspi, who also topped the girls 10-11 division in the Optimist International at the PGA National Resort Club in Palm Beach, Florida last month.

Jed Dy and Mikaela Denise Fortuna finished second in their respective divisions for the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines contingent.

Dy lost to Van Paris Jackson in a sudden-death playoff for the boys six years and under plum. Dy, four behind after two rounds, tied Jackson with a nine-hole effort of 31 but ran out of luck in the playoff, settling for another runner-up finish after the Junior World in San Diego last month.

Fortuna’s 107 aggregate left her five shots behind the eventual winner in the girls’ nine years category.