Unson bags Optimist plum via playoff

MANILA, Philippines - Andie Unson cracked under pressure in the final round but toughened up in sudden death, nipping Daniela Darquea of Ecuador in the second playoff hole to capture the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship Girls’ 14-15 crown at the PGA National Golf and Resort Club in Palm Beach, Florida Monday.

Unson clipped the bigger, power-hitting Darquea with a gutsy game in the playoff, knocking in an eight-foot downhill birdie putt at the par-5 No. 1 to tie and then making a routine two-putt par on the par-4 No. 8 to clinch it as Darquea three-putted from 40 feet.

“I didn’t feel any pressure in the playoff since I knew that she was so big and I was not expected to win. My knees were trembling as I putt for birdie and I was so happy when I saw it going in,” said the 15-year-old Unson.

She was actually ready to go to the third playoff hole but got the big surprise when Darquea missed a short putt for par.

“I thank God for this victory and coach Bong (Lopez) and teammates for their support,” said Unson, who has won all her four playoff battles.

Unson wavered with a four-over par 76 and finished with a 220 in the 54-hole tournament, enabling Darquea to force a playoff with an even par 72.

“Although she somewhat wilted under pressure in the early going, she made three pressure-packed par putts in the closing holes in regulation and hung tough in the playoff. That spoke well of her character and determination to win,” said Lopez, who saw the potential in Unson late last year and tapped her into the ICTSI pool.

Clare Amelia Legaspi made it a two-win romp for the Philippines as she dominated the girls’ 10-11 division, closing out with a one-under 71 for a 223 and a three-stroke victory over Thai Ke Rojanapeansatit and American Claire Hodges, who both had 226s after a 73 and 78, respectively.

While Unson wavered in the final round, Legaspi, playing out of St. Paul-Pasig and Ayala Greenfields, showed superb form, firing the only under-par round in her division on a three-birdie, two-bogey stint to win by a big margin.

Daniella Uy, also of ICTSI team, matched par 72 for a 219 and finished third in the 12-13 class won by Thailand’s Pail Ruttanasupagid, who shot a 70 for a 215.