Legaspi completes 5-peat in US Kids world tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Mia Legaspi became only the third player to score five consecutive victories by topping the girls 12 years division and Jed Dy completed a double victory for the Philippines in the boys 7 years category of the US Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina Saturday.

Legaspi capped a glorious run in the annual event with successive under-par rounds of 70, 71 and 71 for a 212 aggregate for a three-shot victory over American Kayley Marschke, who did 70-73-72-215 at the par-72 Pinehurst No. 3.

The seventh grader at St. Paul’s College in Pasig thus duplicated the five-peat feat scored by Dottie Ardina who won from 2002 to 2006 and Mexican Marijosse Navarro (2005-09).

Dy shared the limelight when he delivered a second victory for the team carrying the colors of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines and national flag-carrier Philippine Airlines.

Dy’s 9-hole rounds of 34, 33 and 34 gave him a three-day total of 101, at the Mid Pines course of the Pinehurst complex, cruising past Jeevan Sihota of Canada (33-37-35-105) for his first major international crown.

“This is another big day for Philippine junior golf. We congratulate Mia and Jed as well as their respective families for a job well done,” said JGFP president Luigi Tabuena and chair Gerry Handog.

Sam Bruce placed third in the girls 10 years division with her scores of 72, 70 and 69. She finished seven strokes behind Anina Ku of the US. Mia’s younger sister Missy shared ninth place in the girls 9 years age-group with a 112 aggregate while Philippe Winsett-Palanca, posting a 225 total, tied for 13th in the boys 10 years bracket.

Only last week, Mia Legaspi notched a third consecutive title in the Optimist International championships at the PGA National Resort in West Palm Beach, Florida by ruling the girls 10-12 years.