Pinoy Golfers Shine In U.S.

Aidric Chan wins in San Diego

Aidric Chan became the first Filipino to win a Junior World Championship crown in five years, hitting a clutch birdie on No. 16 to edge New Zealand’s Jimmy Zheng by one in the boys’ centerpiece division in the Junior World Championships at the Torrey Pines North in San Diego, California Friday.

But Chan needed to gut it out in the last two holes to pull off the stirring victory, coming through with clutch pars and watching Zheng flub a pair of tying birdie putts to preserve the lead he gained with a solid drive and approach shot to within 8-10 feet which he banged in on the 16th.

He closed out with a 69 for a 72-hole total of 277, beating Zheng (71-278) for the 15-18 division trophy.

“I worked hard for the past few weeks and took some time competing on international soil and trying to finish well,” said Chan, who also banked on his superb putting to hack out the victory. “My putting has been well for the whole week and I knew I had to make it (putt on No. 16).”

That practically shook off Zheng’s composure as the Kiwi muffed his own birdie bid from shorter range.

“But I still had I had to play smart on the last two to buck the pressure,” said the incoming Univ. of Arizona student, who honed his talent and skills under the Manila Southwoods golf program.

Despite a mediocre 72 start, Chan said he believed he could still rally and win “but I didn’t put that in mind.”

“I just played my own game for the whole week. I felt like I had a chance at the end of the third day since I was at striking distance,” said Chan whose victory snapped the country’s title drought in the annual event which features the world’s leading and rising age-groupers.

Daniella Uy was the last Pinay winner when he rallied from four down with six holes left to force a playoff then nipped Ziyi Wang of China to snatch the girls’ 15-17 diadem in 2014.

Yuka Saso reigns in Connecticut

Reigning Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso came charging back in the last nine holes with four birdies as she closed out with a three-under 67 to capture the Girls Junior PGA Championship by two over South Carolina’s Jensen Castle at the Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford, Connecticut Friday.

Saso, who co-led the 144-player field with a 65 in the first round but reeled back in the face of defending champion Rose Zhang’s surge (63) in the second round and closed to within one after 54 holes, bucked a two-bogey, one-birdie stint after nine holes in the final round with birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 14 and 17 to finish with a 36-31 and a four-day total of 266

Zhang struggled with a 73, enabling Castle to take the challenger’s role. But the South Carolina bet fell short of her rally, settling for a 67 and 268. Amari Avery rallied with a 63 to snare solo third at 269 with Zhang ending up tied for fourth at 271 with Alexa Pano, who shot a 66, spiked by an ace on No. 6.

“Winning in the US is really special,” said the 18-year-old Saso. “It’s really hard to do since I live in Asia. I’m just really happy and thankful. My goal this week was to play steady and have fun. I think I did that well.”

The victory also netted her a spot in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April 2020 where she finished third in its inaugural staging last April.

“This will help me in many ways,” said Saso, who is priming up for a pair of pro qualifiers in Japan and the US while considering spearheading the Philippines in this year’s SEA Games. “I’m really thankful for this experience.”