Phl bets roar early
Joaquin Ethan Hernandez, Leandro Bagtas and Kiara Montebon came through with solid rounds at the start of the 14th FCG International Junior Championships at the Singing Hills Golf Club in El Cajon, California Monday.
Hernandez shot a bogey-free three-under par 67 to lead the Philippine campaign.
He birdied the opening two holes and added another on 13 to trail Taiwan’s Willy Chen by five shots in a share of sixth spot in the premier boys’ 15-18 division.
Bagtas, the 16-year-old son of former pro Eddie Bagtas, fired five birdies against three birdies to shoot two-under par 68 and joint 10th.
After opening with three straight pars, Bagtas sandwiched a birdie on 5 with two bogeys before rolling three birdies closing the front nine. He had one birdie against one bogey coming home.
Chen collected eight birdies without a bogey to grab a three-shot lead over Korean Minseo Seo who sizzled for five-under 65.
The trio of Americans Kyle Kolodziej, Thailand’s Pornphat Luchutaskul and Hunter Po shared second on 66.
Joining Hernandez on 67 were Kenny Leseur of Bermuda, Willis Panzarello and American Nathan Sampson.
Miguel Ilas and Francis Andre Lanuza, the other Filipinos in action, shot 70 and 75, respectively.
Montebon, on the other hand, was just outside the Top 10 after a gritty one-over par 73 in the distaff side.
Making her debut in the 15-18 bracket, the 15-year-old Cagayan de Oro ace faded with back-to-back bogeys from 16, but still stayed in contention in the 54-hole tournament.
Montebon bogeyed the fifth hole after four straight pars but made consecutive birdies on 7 and 8 to reach the turn on 1-under.
She rolled to seven straight before the twin bogeys that pulled her down in a tie for 11th spot, eight shots off Thailand’s Ther Kotchasanmanee who shot a 65.
Just a bit of a tiring walk.
Another Thai, Natachanok Tunwannarux, was on second place with 66.
“I have to work on my approach shots. Other than that, I’ll stick to my game plan,” said Montebon, whose two birdies came inside 10 feet.
Julianna Kristine Go, the other Filipina in the 74-player field, was in a share of 55th spot after shooting eight-over par 80 in her first taste of international play.
It was nevertheless a good debut for the 16-year-old who took the game seriously only over a year ago under 1986 Asian Games champion Ramon Brobio.
“I had a lot of fun and shot my personal best,” Go said. “Just a bit of a tiring walk.” A 13-handicapper back home, Go was two-over at the turn before she unraveled with double bogey on 13 and four closing bogeys.