MANILA, Philippines - Daniella Uy failed to sustain a fine start and fell short of her title bid with a 71, settling for runner-up finish to Brooke Henderson of Canada in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at the PGA National Golf and Resort in Florida Monday.
Uy, who started the final one off Henderson, grabbed a one-stroke lead after No. 2 when the Canadian made a double-bogey against the ICTSI-backed bet’s par. But the Filipino shotmaker dumped her tee-shot into the water hazard at the par-3 No. 7 for a double-bogey, enabling Henderson to regain the lead with a par.
Uy missed a couple of birdie putts from seven feet at the back and Henderson hung tough before matching her rival’s par on the 18th to clinch a one-stroke victory in the 13-14 age group division.
Uy wound up with a 215, counting her two 72s, with Henderson topping the 54-hole tournament with a 214.
“Daniella played another steady game, hitting 14 greens in regulation and putted quite well although she still fell short of her title bid,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.
The loss came on the heels of Dottie Ardina’s equally heart-breaking 2&1 setback to Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand in the final of the US Girls Junior Championship at the Olympia Fields Country Club’s South course in Illinois last Saturday.
Kaho Matsubara of Singapore carded a 73 for a 216 for third while Argentina’s Sophia Goicoechea also closed out with a 73 for a 217.