Hot Jorge, Magcalayo keep PH hopes alive

Josh Jorge and Jolo Magcalayo kept hopes for a Philippine victory alive with rounds of 3-under-par 69s that boosted them into the top five of the boys’ 11-12 division in the IMG Academy Junior World golf championships Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) in San Diego, California.

The 12-year-old Jorge used his power off the tee to pick up five birdies against two bogeys at Sycuan Resort Oak Glen in a big rally from his opening 75 for a 36-hole total of 144. It moved him up to third, just two strokes behind California’s Alexander Yang going into the final round.

Magcalayo was another shot adrift at 145, in a three-way tie for fifth.

Magcalayo, who posted the most impressive win among the 12 kids who topped the local qualifying for this event that rewarded them with free tickets from Philippine Airlines, birdied four of his last seven holes.

The two Filipinos will be playing together in a flight, with their rivals for the crown all bunched in the two later flights.

While most of the PH entries fell out of contention, Rupert Zaragosa and Pauline del Rosario—the top guns of the delegation supported by ICTSI Sports, Friends of Jungolf and Cleanpak—stayed within striking distance in the top 15-17 division.

Playing against much taller opponents, Zaragosa carded a two-over 74 at Torrey Pines south for 147, six off the lead.

In girls’ play, Del Rosario birdied her last two holes to salvage an even-par 72 and jump to a share of seventh spot at 145, seven behind the leaders.

Harmie Constantino, just two off the pace overnight, fell into a tie for seventh, now seven behind, in the girls’ 13-14 division after a 73 at Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. Kyla Nocum shot a one-under 71 and moved into tie for 12th at 146.

“Being paired together might just be a break that will work to the advantage of Jolo and Josh in the final round,” said delegation head Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

How the PH bets fared:

Boys 15-17 (Torrey Pines south)—Rupert Zaragosa 74-147 tied for 12th, Lanz Uy 74-151 T43, Kristoffer Arevalo 76-154 T70, Ryan Monsalve 81-156 T92, Wei Wei Gao 81-160 T120, Luis Miguel Castro 81-161 T137. Leader: Norman Xiong, Canyon Lake, California 69-140

Girls 15-17 (Torrey Pines north)—Pauline del Rosario 72-145 T7, Abby Arevalo 78-152 T36, L.K Go 77-154 T50, Annika Cedo 80-157 T64, Sam Martirez 80-157 T64. Leaders: N. Hataoka, Japan 71-138, P. Tavatanakit, Thailand 70-138

Boys 13-14 (Morgan Run Resort)—Aidric Chan 74-146 T31, Carl Corpus 75-147 T40, Weiyu Gao 74-147 T40. Leaders: C. Levit, San Francisco 67-138, G. Nong, Davis, California 70-138, J. Imai, Brooklyn, MA 70-138

Girls 13-14 (Country Club of Rancho Bernardo)—Harmie Constantino 73-144 T7, Kayla Nocum 71-146 T12, Mika Fortuna 74-148 T19, Sofia Chabon 72-148 T19, Bernice Ilas 75-149 T23. Leader: C. Chen, Taiwan 68-139

Boys 11-12 (Sycuan Resort Oak Glen)—Josh Jorge 69-144 T3, Jolo Magcalayo 69-145 T5, Jed Dy 76-151 T37, Pierre Ticzon 74-152 T41. Leader: A. Yan, Corona del Mar, California 66-142

Girls 11-12 (Bernardo Heights CC)—Sophia Blanco 79-154 T18, Annyka Cayabyab 79-159 T32, Laia Barro 85-173 T68. Leaders: H. An, Taiwan 72-139, A. Kim Los Angeles, CA. 71-139, T. Kajitani, Japan 71-139

Boys 9-10 (Welk Resort Fountains)— Miguel Roque 66-133 T36, Sean Granada 64-133 T36, Zeus Sara 70-139 T57. Leaders: P. Laopakdee, Thailand 60-119, A. Kournikova, Florida 59-119, S. Jaglan India 59-119, Chokprajakchat, Thailand 63-119

Girls 9-10 (Lomas Santa Fe Executive)—Burberry Zhang 65-125 T21. Leader: A. Pano, Florida 53-108

Boys 7-8 (Oak North)—Vince Tiamsic 69 T24, Santino Pineda 71 T38. Leader: Ratchanoon, Thailand 58

Girls 7-8 (Sycuan Resort Pine Glen)—Anya Cedo 64-129 13, Alexi Blanco 67-130 T14. Leader: Chloe Kovelesky, Florida 61-116

Boys 6-under (Colina Park)—Rocco Pineda 72-154 25, Julienne Lhuillier 85-164 29. Leader: Takahide Kiyomoto, Japan 56-114

Girls 6-under (Colina Park)—Venice Tiamsic 61-126 7th. Leader: Miyu Shimizu, Japan 58-117