Legaspi sisters on course for ‘double’

MANILA, Philippines - Siblings Miya and Missy Legaspi primed up for a family double even as Rupert Zaragosa and Wei Wei Gao pulled away in their respective divisions in the penultimate round of the 2014 ICTSI Junior Championship (Junior World Qualifier) at The Country Club in Canlubang, Laguna yesterday.

Legaspi, the Asian Youth Games gold medalist, assembled a two-over-par 74 to wrest control by three strokes in the girls 15-17 years while Missy submitted her best round in three days of two-under 70 to get past Junia Louise Gabasa in the girls 11-12 years class of the 72-hole competition that will select the country’s bets to the annual Junior World championships in San Diego, California in July.

Miya posted a 54-hole aggregate of 223 to lead Daniella Uy, who struggled with another 78 after a superb start of 70 for a 226, by three. At third at 227 were Sam Martirez (74) and Chanelle Avaricio (76). Missy was at 221 and will shoot it out with Gabasa, the two-day leader who slipped with a 75 for 222, in the final round of the event also supported by Martin Lorenzo, the Philippine Golf Foundation, Crystal Catx, Golf Depot, PacSports, The Country Club and Capitol Hills/Ayala.

Zaragosa virtually put a lock on the boys 15-17 years crown with his third consecutive round of 70, putting him seven strokes ahead of Raymart Tolentino (73-217) while the Cebu-based Gao had an even bigger 10-shot lead over Ryan Monsalve and Ira Christian Alido in the boys 13-14 years. 

In the other divisions, Josh Jorge soared to a 79 for 224 but still held on to a seven-stroke advantage over Carl Jano Corpus (79-231) in the boys 11-12 years. Harmie Constantino kept her solid form to shoot a 73 and post an eight-stroke lead in the girls 13-14 years with Yuka Saso moving up to solo second at 223, two ahead of Sofia Chabon (76), Ashia Nocum (76) and Sam Bruce (78) who are in a three-way tie for third.

Over at Capitol Hills, Sean Granada put himself beyond recall with his best round of 64 jacking up his lead in the boys 9-10 to 35. With a 198 total, Granada was far ahead of Sean Jean Ramos who carded a 73 for 233. Annyka Cayabyab emerged the third new leader in the girls 9-10 years after the tournament’s best round so far of 69 pushed her a shot up on Eagle Ace Superal (73), 219-220.

After the final round of the qualifiers at The Country Club and Capitol Hills, the 54-hole qualifier for the 7-8 years and 6-under divisions follow at the Riviera Sports Club in Silang, Cavite.