SAN DIEGO – Bernice Olivarez-Ilas played true to form and fired a two-under-par 54, wresting a two-stroke lead in the girls 9-10 years even as Mia Legaspi and Carl Corpus stood just three shots behind the leaders in their respective age-groups at the start of the Callaway Junior World golf championships in various venues here Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Olivarez-Ilas, daughter of former national tennis player Eva, flashed a solid game at the Lomas Sta. Fe executive course, rattling off three birdies against a lone bogey to open up a two-shot lead over US bets Brinna Navarrosa and Yukino Yoshinara.
She was the only Filipino bet atop the leaderboard in the tournament which drew 1,100 players from 52 countries although Legaspi and Corpus were within striking distance.
Legaspi, winner of the 7-8 division in 2006 when the country pulled off a glorious triple title feat, lined herself up for a showdown with the girls 13-14 big guns with a one-under 71 at The Country Club Rancho Bernardo. She made four birdies against three bogeys to put herself in a tie for fifth.
Muni He of Canada led Legaspi’s division with a 68.
Corpus emerged as the probable title challenger with his even-par 62, giving him a share of sixth place in the boys 13-14 years play at Fountains course of the Welk Resort San Diego.
Corpus bucked a double bogey mishap on No. 2 with birdies on the third, 11th and 18th hole against a bogey on the eight to salvage an even par round.
Karl Vilips of Australia took charge with a solid 59.
Harmie Constantino, Raymart Tolentino, Wei Wei Gao, Aidric Chan and Annyka Pineda-Cayabyab posted the other notable starts by the 42-strong Philippine delegation backed by International Container Teminal Services, Inc. and the country’s national flag-carrier Philippine Airlines.
Constantino carded a 76 and shared 10th spot but stood eight behind in the girls 11-12, Gao and Chan both had 73s for joint ninth in the boys 11-12, Tolentino’s 71 left him six strokes behind the Chinese leader in the boys 13-14 and Pineda-Cayabyab (67) was among those in 13th spot seven shots off the pace in the girls 7-8 years.
Heavy fog blanketed the Torrey Pines course at mid-afternoon, preventing the 15-17 years girls bets from finishing their rounds. They were to return for a shotgun start on Wednesday morning.
Among those who finished in the boys 15-17 play, LJ Go turned in the best round of 78 that was good for a share of 44th spot while Gio Gandionco also failed to complete his first round.