Kim, Saso rule PH Am Junior Open

SOUTH Korea’s Tom Kim stood out on a day of soaring scores, carding a 5-over-par 77 to complete a come-from-behind win over Ryan Monsalve for the Philippine Amateur Junior Open stroke play championship at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

Kim, who started the day three shots behind, made the most out of the opportunity when Monsalve collapsed in the back nine, tallying a 298 in humid conditions for the first national championship of his career.

Monsalve, the former club champion at Southwoods, skied to an 82 for 300.

Yuka Saso ran away with the girls’ crown after closing out with a 65 for a 12-shot win over reigning national women’s champion Harmie Constantino.

Ira Alido fired a 73 to salvage third place in men’s play with a 301 total, nipping the reedy Lanz Uy, who shot a 78 for 306. Dan Cruz had a 76 for 316.

The Filipino-Japanese Saso had a 72-hole 276 in also clinching her first national crown. She bombed out in the semifinals of the Philippine Amateur Match Play won by LK Go at Cebu Country Club last week.

Constantino was good for a 74 and 288, with Korean Hwang Min-jeong, a winner of a pro event on the local Ladies ICTSI Tour, shooting a 73 to salvage third place in the tournament organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Rupert Zaragosa, as expected, completed a wire-to-wire triumph in the 18-and-over division, closing out with a 75 for a 14-shot win over Airon Sorino, who shot an 83 for 312.

Florence Bisera dominated the girls’ 13-and-below section with a 320 after an 83—25 strokes ahead of Sunshin Zhang, who made an 86 for a 345. Laia Barro finished third at 351 after an 87.