Saldana, Del Rosario pace Faldo golf series

MANILA, Philippines - Gen. Trias – Andres Saldana scored a nine-over-par 81 at the lengthy Faldo course to grab a three-stroke lead in the boys’ 21-under while Pauline del Rosario shot a five-over-par 77 to pace the girls’ 16-under in the first round of the sixth Faldo Series Philippines Championship.

Saldana was three up on Don Petil and Jonar Austria, who carded identical 84s at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in the three-day qualifier for the Faldo Series Asia Final organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

The 14-year-old Del Rosario, one of the newest members of the ICTSI team, was slightly ahead from fancied teammate Princess Superal.  Chanelle Avaricio was on third with an 82.  Clark-based Jang Ju-young made an 83 for a share of fifth with Sam Martinez.

The Asia Final, wherein six-time Major champion Nick Faldo will personally oversee the tournament, will be played at the Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China in March 2014.

Junior golfer Jonas Magcalayo churned out a four-over-par 76 to pace the boys’ under-18 category.  Ram Ram Roque checked in with a 78 while Filipino-Japanese Yasuma Ryu came in with an 81.

Dan Emilio Cruz came through with a 77 for a two-shot edge in the boys’ 16-under. He was followed by Ryan Monsalve, who had an 81.  Jose Sajulga and Carlos Packing were tied on 82s.

In the girls’ 21-under, last year’s winner in the Asia Final girls’ 21-under Marvi Monsalve jumpstarted her bid for another shot at the title with an 81, one better than the 82 of Park Eun-che.  The statuesque Jan Punzalan wound up with an 87.

Luis Miguel Castro (75-Boys Class C), Jolo Magcalayo (84-Boys Class D) and Gao Wei-fang (98-Girls Class D) were the other pacesetters in their respective divisions.