Del Rosario, Saso head PH bid in Junior World

PAULINE del Rosario, Yuka Saso and Bernice Ilas banner the campaign of a 35-strong Philippine contingent in the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships starting Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in different courses in San Diego, California.

Saso and Del Rosario are expected to figure well in the tough girls’ 15-17 division at Torrey Pines following their consistent form in recent high-level events.

Ilas guns for her second Junior World title, this time as one of the favorites in the girls’ 13-14 years. The winner of the girls’ 9-10 crown in 2012, Ilas ruled her age-group at the FCG International tournament, also in San Diego, last week.

Ilas and Del Rosario are among the 12 division champions of the Philippine qualifying held at Manila Southwoods last April who were rewarded with free trips to Los Angeles by Philippine Airlines, the delegation’s official carrier.

The others are Wei Wei Gao, Carl Corpus, John Edward Dy, Zeus Sara, Miko Granada, Alexander Crisostomo, Annyka Cayabyab, Rianne Malixi, Gabrielle Rosca and Christiane Ong.

Ilas upstaged the pros at Beverly Place in Pampanga to emerge the youngest winner on the local ladies tour.

Saso qualified for the US Women’s Am and US Girls Juniors while Del Rosario and Cedo nailed US Juniors slots.

Gao warmed up for the boys’ 15-17 campaign honed by topping several events in the AJGA circuit.

“The field is getting better and better each year but we hope to pull off surprises,” said Gerry Handog, chair of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

The Philippine delegation:

15-17: Wei Wei Gao, Miguel Luis Castro, Ira Alido, Ryan Monsalve, Aidric Chan, Philippe Palanca, Pauline del Rosario, Yuka Saso, Mikha Fortuna, Annika Cedo.

13-14: Carl Corpus, Perry Bucay, Martin Alindogan; Bernice Ilas, Missy Legaspi, Nicole Abelar.

11-12: John Edward Dy, Sean Dominique Granada, Leandro Bagtas, Sean Jean Ramos; Annyka Cayabyab, Laurea Duque, Alessandra Nagayo.

9-10: Zeus Sara, Andrew Chua, Santino Alfonso Pineda; Rianne Malixi, Sabrina Macatangay.

7-8: Miko Granada, Luis Antonio Ballesteros; Gabrielle Rosca, Carolina Ong.

6 years and under: Alexander Tagumpay, Enzo Andre Cham; Christiane Ong.