Lee, Suzuki rule premier JPGT divisions at Pradera Verde

LUBAO, Pampanga—Jiwon Lee and Shinichi Suzuki turned the final round of the 15-18 division of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Luzon Series 2 into cakewalks after posting similar one-over-par 73s at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club on Friday.

Starting the day ahead by an astounding 17 shots over Reese Ng, Lee added to the demolition with a 37-36 effort to win by 20 with a 285 total, even as Suzuki, a Japanese-Filipino playing out of the formidable Manila Southwoods program, wound up with a level 288 to win by six shots over Tristan Padilla in the premier boys division.

Lee is entertaining thoughts of turning professional at the young age of 167, but not after joining national championships here and abroad.

Suzuki, meanwhile, learned a lot of valuable lessons in his latest win, with the ability to be patient the biggest of them.

“I need to work on my patience,” Suzuki, whose younger brother Ryuji triumphed in the 8-10 division two days ago, said. “I have the tendency to rush my shots.”