Asistio posts remarkable eighth place in Jungolf

SAN Diego — Coming on the heels of Wolen Superal’s record-breaking victory in the boys 11-12 years division, Tonton Asistio posted a stirring top eight finish in the boys 15-17 age-group to cap another impressive Philippine campaign in the annual Junior World championships which ended here Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Asistio fired his best round of three-under-par 69 spiked by an eagle on the ninth hole at the Torrey Pines South course to tie for eighth place at 292, becoming the first RP boy to land in the Top 10 after nearly two decades.

Miko Yee also came up with a respectable showing when he matched par 72 at the same course, which will host next year’s US Open for a share of 12th spot at 295.

Yee could have easily landed in the Top 10 as well had he not lapsed with three straight bogeys from the 14th.

For finishing among the Top 20 out of the 120 entries from more than 40 countries who played here, Asistio and Yee, teammates at Manila Southwoods, are now assured of slots for next year’s competitions even without going through the usual Philippine qualifying.

Another RP bet who survived the 54-hole cutoff score, Matthew Manotoc, struggled with a 76-305 and wound up in 48th place.

After Carito Villaroman’s back-to-back victory in 1985-86 and Ramon Brobio’s runner-up finish in 1987, the Philippines had never figured prominently in the centerpiece event of the Junior World. Asistio and Yee broke the long spell of poor finishes.

On Thursday, Superal hacked out a six-shot victory in his division with a whopping 21-under-par effort, the lowest in Junior World history. Superal’s 10-under 64 at the Cottonwood Golf Club in the first round was also a record.

Team Philippines also scored a second place finish through Abby Arevalo (girls 6-under) and Anton Arboleda (boys 11-12), third courtesy of LK Go (girls 6-under), fourth Clare Legaspi (girls 6-under), fifth through Janella Buen (girls 6-under), Dottie Ardina (girls 11-12) and Andie Unson (girls 7-8).

The stint of the RP kids in the Junior World is sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Samsung, Bernie Cabrera, Iselectric Ltd., Manila Southwoods, Capitol Hills, Makati Golf and Unilever.