Legaspi joins Phl aces in Samsung tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven-year-old Miya Legaspi, only the third player to score five consecutive victories in the US Kids World Golf Championships, brings her game to another level as she competes in the Samsung Amateur Open firing off Friday at Summit Point in Lipa, Batangas.

But the three-time Optimist International champion will be facing a crack roster of players making up the national team, including SEA-Games bound Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda, Andie Unson and Jayvie Agojo of the ICTSI golf squad and a slew of veteran campaigners.

“Miya hopes to gain experience by playing against these older, experienced players,” said Legaspi’s father Col. Norman (retired). “While she had played against them in previous tournaments where she fared well, we expect her to take the opportunity to learn from them.”

The elder Legaspi, however, said Miya will play to win and try to measure up against Ardina, Ikeda and the rest of the field in the annual event presented by Samsung Phl.

The young Legaspi has continuously practiced since arriving from the US where she notched her third consecutive crown in the Optimist International Championships by ruling the girls 10-12 years division in Florida.

The seventh grader at St. Paul’s College in Pasig later topped the 12-years class of the US Kids Golf World Championship in North Carolina, duplicating the five-peat feat scored by Ardina who won from 2002 to 2006 and Mexican Marijosse Navarro (2005-09).

Also vying for top honors in the girls’ category of the Championship Division are Sarah Ababa, Sunshine Baraquiel, Lovelynn Guioguio, Samantha Martirez, Desiree Salvador, Daniella Uy and Sheryl Villacencio.

Meanwhile, registration for the 36-hole tournament ends today. For details, contact Bluemansion Enterprise and Services Co. at (632) 211-5954 or 0917-8121242 or (632) 6715767 (telefax).

Heading the men’s division are ICTSI team mainstays Reymon Jaraula, Alex Nallos and Zanie Boy Gialon, Lee Si Hyung, Agustin Mata, Inigo Raymundo, Daniel Sarmiento, Aristeo Mata and Mark Rivera.

The other categories are on tap in the stroke-play event, sponsored by Airphil Express, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Footjoy and Titliest by Empire Golf, Loro, Endress+Hauser, Sweet Photolicious, Torch Resto Bar, GlucosCare, Omnisource International, Business Mirror and Inquirer Golf are Classes A (4-8.9), B (9-14.9), C (15-21.9) and D (22-and-above) for men and Classes A (0-8.9), B (9-19.9) and C (20-and-above) for ladies.

The event serves as part of the national women’s team’s buildup for next month’s SEA Games in Indonesia with Ardina and Ikeda leading the country’s title retention bid in team play and Ikeda in the individual competition.

The Samsung Am offers a pack of prizes for hole-in-one feats, including a Samsung LCD TV on No. 2, a Mizuno T Zoid iron set on No. 6 and a roundtrip ticket to Singapore courtesy of Airphil Express on No. 13.