MANILA, Philippines - Clare Amelia Legaspi holed out with a gutsy par on the 18th to hold of a rallying Brooke Henderson of Canada to complete a wire-to-wire triumph in the girls’ 10-11 division of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Florida Monday.
Legaspi, who led the field by two with a pair of 72s after 36 holes, threatened to pull away with a two-under card after 12 holes. But the top Jungolf bet fumbled with a bogey on the 16th then made a double-bogey on the par-3 17th for a 73 and a one-over 217 total.
That enabled Henderson to get a crack at the crown with the Ontario native battling back from six shots down with a stirring five-birdie binge from No. 3. She moved within two with another birdie on No. 10 but sputtered with a bogey on the 12th and dropped another stroke on the difficult 17th. She finished with a 68 and took the runner-up honors with a 218.
Coming in third was Sierra Brooks of Florida, who had a 221 after a 75.
Meanwhile, ICTSI’s Sarah Ababa made a three-over par 75 and wound up joint sixth in the girls’ 14-15 division with a 222.
Ababa had an even par card after 10 holes but faltered with three bogeys in the last seven holes for a 37-38 round.
Thai Panitta Yusabai matched par 72 for a 209 and ran away with a three-shot romp over compatriot Pavarisa Yoktuan, who had a 212 after a 74.