BAGUIO, Philippines – Annyka Pineda-Cayabyab gifted herself an early birthday gift by winning the girls Class D crown in runaway fashion to lead the Northern Luzon qualifiers of the inaugural Philippine Golf Foundation Junior Masters Series at the Camp John Hay Golf Club course here.
Pineda-Cayabyab, who turns 9 this Saturday, closed out with a 76 for a 36-hole aggregate of 163 to clinch one of the two slots disputed in her division for the match play national finals on May 21-24 at the Alabang Country Club. Mikaella Arroyo claimed the other spot with her 97-203.
John Catalan was the top qualifier from the boys Class A group with his 73-144, good for a one shot victory over Park Jin-young. But with expats not eligible for the finals, the other slot went to third placer Carlos Packing who did 71-149.
Making up the first batch of qualifiers were Daniella Uy in girls Class A, Lanz Uy and Ryan Monsalve in boys Class B, Annika Guangko in girls Class B, Aidric Chan and Luigi Wong in boys Class C, Kayla Nocum and Jona Magcalayo in girls Class C and Josh Jorge and Jolo Magcalayo in boys Class D.
In Class E play serving as the PGF Junior Masters Development Tour, Monique Arroyo was the top girls player with 104-214 while Aenaes Armen Posadas (89-198) and Juan Miguel Luna (101- 211) topped the boys class.
The four-leg elimination series goes to the Cebu Country Club for the Visayas leg today and tomorrow.Splendido Taal hosts the third leg on May 7-8 and Del Monte serves as the venue for the Mindanao leg on May 9-10.
Another batch of 52 kids have registered for the resumption of the tieup between the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines and the Philippine Golf Foundation for a year-round talent development project.