Korean seizes PH Jr Am by 2 strokes

PARK Min-ung, a 13-year-old Korean expatriate, proved  steadiest on a truly trying day yesterday, shooting a three-over-par 75 to rule the Philippine Junior Amateur Open golf championship coming from behind at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

Park finished with four birdies on the back nine, wiping out an overnight two-stroke deficit to win by two shots over Malaysian Ervin Chang with a 296 tally in the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

Chang, who held the third-round lead after Gabriel Manotoc and Rupert Zaragosa disqualified themselves for hitting the wrong balls, returned a 79 for 298 with Basti Lorenzo emerging as the best-placed Filipino in the event also backed by Pancake House, Nike, Golf Depot, Pacsports and Microtel.

Lorenzo, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder that kept him out of this year’s PAL Interclub, also returned a 79 like Lanz Uy, who finished fourth for 311, two strokes behind Lorenzo.

Meanwhile, Princess Superal dominated the girls’ side of the event, winning by 10 strokes over Daniella Uy despite a closing 80.

Superal, a PSA awardee for amateur golf this year, finished with a  295 total, while Uy checked in with a 77 and nipped Felicia Medalla via a countback. Medalla settled for third after carding a 78.

The 75 by Park was the day’s best score. The well-manicured layout will also host the Putra Cup in June, being the organizing NGAP’s official home. Musong R. Castillo