Philippine Junior Amateur Open: Monsalve wrests control; Saso holds sway

MANILA, Philippines - Ryan Monsalve put in a gutsy 72 in demanding conditions and pounced on Korean Tim Kim’s backside meltdown to seize the men’s lead while Yuka Saso bucked a shaky start to likewise match par 72 and keep her three-shot lead intact in the third round of the Philippine Junior Amateur Open Golf Championship (strokeplay) at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martirez, Cavite yesterday.

Monsalve gunned down two birdies against the same number of bogeys in the heat and wind then watched Kim crumble at the finish with a 42 for a 78, turning a three-stroke deficit into a three-shot lead at 218 heading to the final 18 holes of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and hosted by Sherwood Hills Golf Club.

Kim, impressive with a 71 and 72 in the first two rounds, stayed in control with an opening 36 but reeled back with a six-over finish marred by a triple bogey on the par-4 17th. He slid to 221.

Lanz Uy also wavered at the finish with a 38 and made a 74 for joint third with Ira Alido, who skied to an 81, at 228, reducing the battle for the championship in the event serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour to Monsalve and Kim.

Jolo Magcalayo hobbled with a 79 for a 237 while Dan Emilio Cruz shot a 76 for a 238 followed by Korean Ko Myeong Hun who had a 244 after an 82 and Nathan Kawpeng, who limped with an 86 for a 245.

Saso, meanwhile, recovered from a double-bogey start with birdies on the next two holes then made up for her bogeys on Nos. 10 and 12 with another back-to-back birdie feat from No. 14 for that 72 and a 211.

Constantino, winner of the NGAP national stroke play crown early this year, hardly gained from Saso’s opening hole mishap as she holed out with a bogey and needed to birdie No. 12 to salvage a 72 and remained three behind at 214.

Korean Hwang Min Jeong bowed out of the title race with a 76 for a 224 while Mikha Fortuna fumbled with a 78 and fell farther behind at 225 and Ashia Nocum pooled a 238 after an 80.

Rupert Zaragosa also moved 18 holes away from nailing another championship after topping the first MVPSF Visayas Regional match play in Cebu last week, carding a 76 for a 223 and a six-shot lead over Airon Sorino, who carded a 75-229, in the 18-and-above special division of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines. Luigi Guerrero stood way behind at 235 after a 78.

Florence Bisera likewise poised herself for a runaway victory in the girls’ 13-and-below group, assembling a 54-hole haul of 237 after a 77 for a huge 22-stroke lead over Sunshine Zhang, who made an 83 for a 259 while Laia Barro turned in an 84 for a 264.