Dela Paz, Lee cop jungolf titles

ANTIPOLO, Rizal – Bino dela Paz parred the first playoff hole to snatch the 2008 JAV Open Junior Golf Championship recently at the par-70 executive course of the Valley Golf and Country Club.

Dela Paz ended up in a tie with Eric Gallardo of Camp Aguinaldo on a 2-over-par 142 at the end of regulation play.

The 15-year-old Gallardo, down by six strokes at the start of the second round, made seven birdies against three bogeys to score a 4-under par 66 to tie Dela Paz and force sudden death.

But the 14-year-old Dela Paz sank a 15-foot uphill putt for par while Gallardo made a bogey. Gallardo, aside from settling for second place overall, also took the Class A crown.

Korean Jeong Hwa Lee won her first JAV Open girls crown.

Dela Paz and Lee were awarded a replica of the Perpetual Trophy and a JAV Open jacket by 2007 champion Richard Kim.

Other top finishers were (for boys) Juny Jeong (142); Marvin Mendoza (143), Jobim Carlos (144), Richard Kim (144), Remo Fueg (147), (for girls) Mi Yeon Kang (149), Demi Mak (149), Ginger Mak (150), Ann Sabater (150), Shine Lee (152).

A total of 128 junior golfers participated.

 in the Open’s fourth anniversary celebration of JAV with support from Restoserve, Pacsport, Citibank, Davies Paints, Madral Industrial, Alphatec, Ritch-free Trading, Ferdstar, VTJ Construction, Steadfast Builders, IM Construction and Solidrock Construction.