Jungolfers bag three international titles

JAKARTA — Dottie Ardina, Cyna Rodriguez and Bambee dela Paz delivered three victories for the Philippines Friday in the Jakarta Asian junior golf championships to highlight a fruitful summer campaign abroad for Filipino kids at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Ardina, showing why she’s among the world’s best in her age-group, picked up a second straight international title in runaway fashion, closing out with a 74 for a 221 total and a whopping 21-stroke victory over local bet Noviandra in girls Class C (11-12 years division).

Rodriguez came from behind to rule girls Class B with a two-under-par 70 on the final day, completing a 1-2 finish for the Philippines as Mia Piccio placed second at  219 after a 74, beating two-day leader Chang Li Ling of Taiwan in the countback.

Rodriguez’s final day charge also enabled her and dela Paz to capture the team title in the girls division. They totaled 446 to beat Taiwan by six strokes.

Dela Paz and reigning RP Ladies Open champ Debbie de Villa settled for second in the Class A individual won by Sudjasmin of Indonesia.

The RP boys, however, failed to stop the Taiwanese juggernaut.

Miko Yee placed third behind two Taiwanese in boys Class A while Wolen Superal and Marcel Puyat wound up second and fourth, respectively, in boys Class B.  Yee and Puyat also settled for the runner-up trophy in the team competition likewise behind Taiwan.

They now train their guns on next month’s Junior World campaign in San Diego, California where Wolen Superal won last year’s 11-12 years division and Ardina had placed second in different age-groups two of the last three years.