Sarines, Padilla hack out tight wins

Lisa Sarines and Tristan Padilla provided the drama on the final day of what had been a demanding week at The Country Club (TCC) in Laguna to rule their respective divisions in the Uswing Mojing Junior World Qualifying tournament.

Sarines drained a critical birdie on the 53rd hole to close out with a seven-over-par 79 and rule the girls’ 13-14 division by two shots over Johanna Uyking, even as Padilla turned back the fancied Shinichi Suzuki in the first hole of sudden death for the centerpiece boys’ 15-18 crown.

Both earned free trips to the United States for the worlds proper, a just reward after tackling the demands of the TCC and beating the best in their respective brackets.

Sarines drained a birdie on No. 8 to ease out by a shot over Uyking, who went on to bogey the final hole for an 82. Sarines tallied 232.

Padilla, meanwhile, bungled a five-stroke lead to open the final round after an 83, enabling Suzuki, the national team mainstay, to pull abreast at the end of regulation at 235 after a 78.

But Padilla made up for that by canning a six-footer for par on their second trip to the difficult 18th, even as Reese Ng fended off a determined challenge from Alessandra Luciano to secure victory in the girls’ 15-18 category with a 240 total and a four-shot win after an 82.

Ralph Batican cruised to victory in the boys’ 13-14 division despite a final-round 83, his commanding 10-stroke overnight lead proving insurmountable for his closest challengers. The rising Del Monte star posted a 54-hole total of 238, securing an 11-shot triumph over a late-charging Mico Ungco.