Dungca catches bus to ICTSI Jr golf finals

MANILA, Philippines —  Ronee Dungca barged into the ICTSI Elite Junior Finals by sharing the top spot in the girls’ 7-10 age-group category with a 71 at the close of a rain-disrupted John Hay JPGT Championship in Baguio yesterday.

Despite missing the first four legs of the seven-stage regional tour, Dungca made a stunning late-season charge. The nine-year-old swept the last three legs, matching Mavis Espedido’s three-leg sweep worth 45 points each to advance to the finals of the season-long, course-hopping series that aims to discover young talent from across the country.

Dungca, Espedido and two others will now square off with the top qualifiers from the Visayas-Mindanao swing in a Ryder Cup-style showdown set for Oct. 7-10 at The Country Club in Laguna.

Dungca’s closing two-over card gave her a 36-hole total of 143 for a 12-shot victory over Tyra Garingalao of Carmona, Cavite, who posted a 75 for a 155. Amiya Tablac of Baguio City finished third with a 163 after an 80.