Castro virtual Jr Am champion

Luis Castro. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Despite failing to crack par for the first time this week, Luis Castro still has the biggest title of his young career in sight.

Firing a one-over-par 73 on Thursday, Castro opened up a nine-stroke lead and all but put the Philippine Junior Amateur Golf Championship in the bag with still a round left to be played at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

No one was able to gain ground on the Canlubang stalwart in the PAL Interclub as the pursuers continued to flounder at the wind-raked layout, with Sean Ramos shooting a 74 to be nine strokes adrift.

After consecutive 71s, Castro took a 215 tally in taking his victory walk Friday.

Carl Corpus also fired a 74 and fell 11 strokes behind, with Paolo Wong ballooning to a 78 for a 232.

Harmie Constantino, meanwhile, opened up a three-shot lead over Junia Gabasa in girls’ play after a 71 for a 54-hole 219 total.

Gabasa failed to match Constantino’s 36 start with a two-over card and settled for a 73 but remained in the title hunt with a 222.

Nicole Abelar matched par 72 and fell five strokes off the pace with a 224. Sofia Legaspi turned in a 79 for a 235.