Carlos rules Indonesian jungolf

MANILA, Philippines - Jobim Carlos, Canlubang’s prodigious teenage standout, ruled the Medco Indonesian Junior golf championship by one over a highly-touted Aussie on Friday despite closing out with an eight-over-par 80 at the tree-lined Jagorawi layout in Singapore.

The 17-year-old Carlos, who helped power the Sugar Barons to an unprecedented fifth straight PAL Interclub title earlier this year, protected his one-stroke lead over Nicholas Smith all day to salvage the victory with a 300 total.

Smith, one of Australia’s top juniors, also skied to an 80 but still finished four strokes ahead of Clyde Mondilla, the Philippines’ reigning national champion, who rallied with a day-best 73 that sealed a 1-3 finish for the ICTSI-Philippine contingent.

Malaysian Adrian Halimi returned a 78 and was fourth another four shots behind Mondilla as scores in the final round ballooned because of the tough conditions with Kenneth Kano and Bino dela Paz failing to make it to the top 10 after closing out with 82 and 86, respectively.

Carlos has been reaping the fruits of his game that saw a second coming after transferring to Canlubang late last year, with the victory giving him a huge confidence boost when he carries the country’s colors in the Callaway Junior World Championships in July in San Diego.

Kevin Roesli was fifth also after an 80.

Carlos surged to a six-stroke lead after the first two rounds with cards of 74 and 71 before Smith rallied in the third with a 70 and the Filipino shooting a 75.