Tiny Arlene caps Junior World romp

SAN DIEGO – Arlene Salvador saved the day for a Philippine contingent that blew winning chances in three age-groups as she completed a wire-to-wire triumph in the girls 6 years and under division even as ICTSI scholars Dottie Ardina and Marcel Puyat stayed in the title hunt in the Callaway Junior World golf championships here Thursday.

Salvador, daughter of Filipino migrants in Palmdale, California, fired a second straight round of 60 at Colina Park on Thursday (Friday in Manila) for a 177 aggregate to dominate her class with a whopping nine-stroke victory over Valentina Bosch of Chula Vista, California.

The other age-groups yielded no victories for the Philippines with Pauline del Rosario taking a heartbreaking loss in the girls 9-10 years battle after she bogeyed two of the last three holes. The La Salle Zobel grade schooler carded a 58-172 and lost by one to Thailand’s Nichakorn Muangkhum.

Marvi Monsalve settled for third in the girls 13-14 years behind two Thais despite a third straight round of 71 while Miguel Tabuena (boys 13-14 years), Bernice Olivarez-Ilas (girls 7-8) and Philippe Winsett-Palanca (boys 7-8) all wound up fourth in their respective divisions.

Puyat and Ardina, both ICTSI scholars at the Leadbetter Academy, remained as title threats in the 15-17 years division at Torrey Pines.

Ardina returned a two-under 72-220 but still slid to sixth, five shots behind new leader Jang Ha-Na of Korea while Puyat stood just three strokes off Kurt Kitayama of California after shooting a 70-219.

Puyat, an 11th grader at Leadbetter Academy, will be going for a first Philippine win in his division since Carito Villaroman, now a professional, topped the 1986 edition.

Gerry Handog, head of the Philippine delegation supported by Philippine Airlines, Diamond Motors Corp. and Club Marinduque, remained upbeat on the chances of Puyat and Ardina.