Suzuki nails back-to-back wins; Handog strikes

LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines — Ryuji Suzuki solidified his position as the standout player in the 8-10 division of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour with a hard-fought victory, thwarting Jose Luis Espinosa for the second straight time with a 71 at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club here.

Mirroring his performance from the first round, Suzuki  delivered four birdies against three bogeys in a 36-35 round for a 36-hole total of 143, claiming supremacy in the JPGT Luzon Series 2.

“It feels great to win back-to-back. It’s truly an honor,” said Suzuki.

A clutch birdie on the closing par-5 hole secured Suzuki’s two-stroke victory over Espinosa, who mounted a late charge with birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 and an eagle on the last. Despite Espinosa’s strong finish for a 72, he fell short again with a 145 total.

Monte Andaman wound up third with a 175 after an 83.

Suzuki also edged Espinosa by one in the series’ kickoff leg at Splendido Taal two weeks ago.

In the girls’ side of the youngest category of the three-division series sponsored by ICTSI, Georgina Handog made an impressive JPGT debut with a four-stroke triumph over first-leg winner Maurysse Abalos despite a closing 81.

Handog, who started the final round with a huge nine-shot lead, endured nine bogeys in a birdie-less round.