Chabon, Fortuna reach USGA Fourball finals

MANILA, Philippines - Sofia Chabon and Mikha Fortuna bucked the odds and the tough field to pool an eight-under 63 and top the 2016 USGA Fourball Qualifier at the Redlands Country Club in Palm Desert, California Tuesday.

Chabon complemented well with Fortuna all throughout the 18-hole best-ball tournament and spiked her solid round with an ace on No. 13 as The Country Club duo finished four shots clear of Angelina Kim and Brianna Navarrosa, who turned in a four-under 67.

Sung Eun Park and Jung Min Park settled for a 69 while the Hailey Borja-Chayse Gomez and the Nicole Whiston-Waverly Whiston tandem each carded a 71.

Chabon and Fortuna thus join TCC teammates Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario, who had earlier qualified for the finals set May 21-26 at the Steam Strong Resort Golf Club in Florida.

The duo actually fumbled with a bogey on No. 2 but Chabon hit a tap-in birdie on the third then Fortuna drilled in her own birdie from 15 feet on No. 5 before Chabon rolled another birdie on the next. Both made par on No. 7 then Chabon birdied two of the next five holes before scoring a hole in one on No. 13.

Fortuna added another birdie from 10 feet on the next and the two settled for pars in the next three before closing out with another birdie for that 63.