Phl jungolfers share honors with Thais

MANILA, Philippines - Thailand’s Suvajanakorn Nattawat and Supamas Sangchan dominated the premier Class A while Kristoffer Arevalo and Miya Legaspi took the Class B honors at the close of the Philippine Junior Golf Championships (The Montecillo) at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

Suvajanakorn, who fired a 69 to tie Chiu Han-ting in the lead Thursday, sustained his form and closed out with a two-under 70 to frustrate the Taiwanese and capture the boys’ Class A crown with a 72-hole total of three-under 285. Chiu carded a 71 and wound up second with a 286.

Supamas, on the other hand, turned in her worst round of 75 in sweltering heat but it proved enough to hold off the rallying Princess Superal and bag the girls’ Class A plum with a 291.

The top ICTSI-backed bet shot her second straight 69 but ran out of holes in her comeback bid, settling for runner-up honors with a 294 in the event held in honor of Jungolf founder Amalia “Maling” Montecillo.

Arevalo, meanwhile, hacked out a three-over 75 in tough condition to beat Cebu’s Wei Wei-gao by five shots and cop the boys’ Class B diadem in the tournament sponsored by ICTSI, Pancake House, Sizzling Pepper, Teriyaki Boy, Philippine Golf Foundation, Duty Free, McDonald’s, Fila, Pacsports, Golf Depot, PAL and Acacia Hotel.

Arevalo ended up with a 299 to run away with the crown as Wei made a 74 for a 304 and Lanz Uy took third place with a 309 after a 74.

Legaspi fashioned out a stirring come-from-behind victory in the girls’ Class B, shooting a one-under 71 for a 299 and pouncing on erstwhile leader Abby Arevalo’s final round meltdown to clinch a two-shot victory.

The 13-year-old Abby Arevalo struggled with her short game and putting and skied to a 79 for a 301 while Pauline del Rosario placed third with a 209 after a 70.