Celestino tops Faldo golf

LAWRENCE Celestino birdied the third hole of a sudden death playoff to nip Korean Cho Phil-kyu and win the Under-21 class of the fifth Faldo Series Philippines Championship yesterday at TAT Filipinas Golf Club in San Pedro, Laguna.

“I’m excited to go back to the Grand Final and meet Nick Faldo again,” said the 20-year-old Celestino, who qualified for the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Shenzhen, China, for the second time following his win in 2010.

Celestino will be joined by Jay Matthew Reyes and Justin Quiban in the Grand Final at Mission Hills next March.

Reyes ruled the Under-18 category while Quiban emerged Under-16 champion.

Also representing the country at the World Amateur Golf Ranking event in Shenzhen will be Anne Therese Sabater (Girls’ Under-21) and Lareina Daniella Gonzales (Girls’ Under-16).

The Faldo Series Asia recently announced a record schedule for its seventh season with 18 tournaments in 15 Asian countries in the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, the national qualifying tournament for the Class E and F divisions of the Junior World golf championships starts today at the Riviera Executive Course in Silang, Cavite.