Kathleen Uy wins her second CCC Ladies crown

Sixteen-year old Kathleen Uy displayed calm and composure down the stretch to score a come-from-behind win to claim her second consecutive Ladies Club Championship in Cebu Country Club yesterday (March 16). After opening with a 7-over par 79, the young champion found herself pursuing an even younger rival - the 12-year old Abby Olea, who opened with a 77 for a two-stroke lead going into the final round.

A spectacular battle in the front nine ensued, with Olea extending her lead to three strokes after going 1-under against Uy's even par. The gap widened to four after the 14th hole, when Uy had a shaky back nine. Then her championship experience took over.

A wayward tee shot by Olea on the par 3 15th led to a double bogey, while Uy parred to cut down the lead to two. On the par 5 16th, Olea found the water with her second shot and Uy capitalized with a birdie to take a one-stroke lead going to the last two holes.

Uy bogeyed the 17th and opened the door for Olea to tie, but she missed her 5-footer for par. Both players could only manage regulation pars on the 18th, which paved the way for Uy's one-stroke victory.

Uy finished with a 5-over par 77 for a two day total of 156, one better than Olea who finished at 157.

The tournament was a two-way battle all throughout, as the third place finisher, 12-year old Kriztine Uy, was 15 strokes back with rounds of 85 and 86. But it was good enough to bag her the overall lowest net honors in the tournament.

Olea's consolation was the Class A crown, while runner-up honors when to Yoko Akimoto. Cely Chionbian, the more beautiful other half of Sunstar Daily golf columnist Edgar, took Class B honors. Finishing runner-up was jungolf matriarch Vicky Moraza.

For the second consecutive year, the Ladies Club Championship was dominated by junior golfers - proof of the success of the Junior Golf Program of the club. The CCC jungolf summer program begins on April 17, and interested parties can call the CCC office to register.