CEBUANA, 9, EARNS SLOT TO US KIDS GOLF CHAMP GAMES

Grace Pauline Quintanilla earned a slot to the US Kids Golf World Championship. Nineyear-old Quintanilla of the Cebu Country Club topped the Philippine International qualifier at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite by firing 247 in the threeround tournament. The US Kids Golf World Championship is set in July and August in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

STC’s Quintanilla tops PHL qualifiers for US Kids Golf World Championships Quintanilla scores 247 in three rounds with average of 82.3 strokes Mactan’s Ashley Llena wins Girls 11 division but failed to hit qualifying mark

Cebuana junior golfer Grace Pauline Quintanilla clinched a slot to the US Kids Golf World Championship after topping the Philippine International qualifier at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite last May 24 to 26.

The nine-year-old Quintanilla of Cebu Country Club (CCC) fired 247 in the three-round tournament to reign in the girls’ 10-years old class over Sophia Abigail Abarcas and Maria Anya Cedo, who shot 261 and 270, respectively.

Quintanilla scored 84 in the first round and was tied with Abarcas before gaining the lead with an 8-over 80 in the second round. The Cebuana standout finished with 83 in the final round to seal the win.

The incoming fifth grader at St. Theresa’s College tallied an average score of 82.3 in the three-day tournament and easily passed the qualifying average of 92 in her age division, making her the lone qualifier from Cebu this year.

The US Kids Golf World Championship is set in July and August in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

“To qualify (to the US Kids Golf World Championship) a player should get the qualfying score aside from winning the division,” said Quintanilla’s father, Gene. “The jungolf training in CCC has paid off for us. We’re happy that she has qualified for the first time and is the lone one from Cebu.”

The older Quintanilla said that the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines has also offered his daughter a slot to the IMG Academy Junior World Championships set in San Diego, California in July.

He said that they’re still thinking about their participation in these two big events since the date would be in conflict with classes.

Meanwhile, another junior golfer from Cebu prevailed as Ashley Llena of Mactan Island Golf won the girls’ 11 years old division with a score of 290, beating Sabrina Macatangay and Jody Cassandara Castillo who shot 307 and 317, respectively. Llena, however, did not get the qualifying average score for her division. /