­­Ilas cruises to 3-stroke FCG win

MANILA, Philippines – Bernice Olivarez-Ilas overcame a shaky stint to start the backside with three birdies in the last five holes as she closed out with a two-under 70 to beat Canadian Euna Han by three for the FCG International Jr Golf Championship crown at the Sycuan Resort’s Oak Glen course in California Tuesday.

Ilas actually set her title drive in motion with an opening 68 but the top The Country Club sputtered with back-to-back bogeys from No. 10 after ramming in a six-foot birdie putt on No. 5, enabling Han and a slew of others to get a crack at the crown in the 13-14 Class B category.

But the 14-year-old shotmaker, who bested a tough international pro field to win the Beverly Place leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour last April, recovered her bearing and rhythm and birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 18 to regain control and secure the victory as Han cracked under pressure and bogeyed the last two holes.

She pooled a 138 and gained points, the 36-hole tournament being a Future Champions Golf ranking event. The win also came four days after TCC teammate Mikha Fortuna romped with the FCG Challenge Cup title in Southern California.

While Ilas toughened up at the finish, Han wavered, dropping two precious strokes to finish with a 70 and 141 while Hong Kong’s Virginie Ding wound up third with a 142 after a 72. Yuen Li of Hong Kong placed fourth with a 145 after a 73 while Thai Svarin Yuenyong matched par 72 to finish fifth with a 146.

Meanwhile, Pauline del Rosario fell short of her bid in the premier Class A side, closing out with a 71 for a 144 and losing by two to Indonesian Ribka Vania, who pooled a 142 after a second straight 71.

Sofia Chabon matched par 72 and placed third with a 145 while Abby Arevalo tied for sixth at 147 after a 74 and Fortuna also failed to recover from a poor 74 start with a 75 and ended ninth at 149 in a 69-player field.