Pinay scores breakthru, cops Symetra Tour plum

MANILA, Philippines - Filipina Clariss Guce nailed her maiden professional win in style, putting on a fiery windup coming off a triple-bogey mishap and preserving an eagle-spiked start to edge American Ally McDonald by one and snare the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic crown in Rochester, New York Sunday.

The 26-year-old Guce birdied the closing par-3 from 12 feet to fire a five-under 67 for an 11-under 277 total, putting to naught McDonald’s bogey-free eight-under 64 and German Sophia Popov’s two-eagle feat for a 68 for 278s, and realizing a dream championship on her rookie year on the Symetra Tour after missing the cut in six of nine starts coming into the $150,000 event.

“It’s an amazing feeling, especially because I have been struggling quite a bit during the season,” said Guce, who played college golf at Cal State Northridge where she won five events.

But she failed to dish out the same form when she joined the pros, missing five straight cuts between the end of May and June before the Artesia, California-based shotmaker finally made it to the final round in the Tullymore Classic in Michigan two weeks ago and putting it all together this week.

“Being able to make the cut a couple of weeks ago and then to win here, I can’t even describe how fast this is happening. It just shows that anyone out here can win, the field is just so good,” said Guce, daughter of a former top jockey Ramon whose siblings continue to dominate the local racing scene.

The victory, worth $30,000, also moved Guce from No. 84 to No. 12 in the Volvik Race for the Card money list.