Piccio, Ababa score sweep in FCWT tilt

MANILA, Philippines - ICTSI golf scholars Mia Piccio and Sarah Ababa scored breakthrough victories in their young golfing careers as they topped their respective divisions in the typhoon-hit FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour) Laura Diaz National Championships at the PGA National Golf and Resort in Palm Beach, Florida over the weekend.

The 17-year-old Piccio, who had one win and two runner-up finishes in the FCWT tour in the season, made three birdies against two bogeys, highlighting his final round charge with a 60-foot birdie putt on No. 6. She closed out with a one-under 71 for a 36-hole aggregate of 143, beating fellow ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda by two for the premier girls’ 15-18 age group of the circuit featuring the world’s future stars.

Ababa, on the other hand, bogeyed three of the last four holes and limped a 74 but hung tough in the playoff to nip Vivian Chen of Taiwan and Caroline Araskog of New York and capture the 11-14 age division championship.

Chen matched par 72 while Araskog also had a 70 to tie Ababa at 150.

Ababa and Chen parred the first playoff hole, booting out Araskog, who made a bogey then the Filipino bet watched Chen double-bogey the second extra hole to win the title with a regulation par.

“We’d like to thank Mr. Ricky Razon for his commitment to help amateur golf and the ICTSI golf family for their support,” said the two champions, referring to the top honcho of the sponsoring International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Ikeda mixed two birdies against the same number of bogeys, winding up with a 72 and a 145 and then nipping Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai of Thailand in the countback for second place. The Thai bet faltered with three bogeys with only a birdie to show for a 74.

Dottie Ardina, the best credentialed among the RP bets with two wins and two second place finishes, got hobbled by a poor opening 76 although she rallied with a 70 in the final round to salvage fourth place at 146.

The event, the culmination of the ninth month-long circuit, was actually a 54-hole tournament but the first round was cancelled due to heavy rains, thunderstorm and lightning.

Cyna Rodriguez wound up ninth with a 150 after a 75 while reigning RP Ladies Open champion Louise Manalo hardly recovered from an opening 80 with a 74 for a 154. Debbe de Villa also groped for form with a 163 after a 79.