Lorenzo, Legaspi set pace in Phl Jr golfest

MANILA, Philippines - Basti Lorenzo gunned down five birdies to fire a three-under 69 yesterday to lead the elims in the NGAP-Globe’s Philippine Junior (Closed) Amateur Championship Group 1 boy’s division at the Alabang Golf Club.

Lorenzo, 15, pooled a 35-34 round to post a three-stroke lead over Raymundo Inigo even as Mia Legaspi carded a 71 to show the way in the girl’s Group 1 over Gabrielle Bruce, who made a 75.

Defending Group 1 boy’s champion Rupert Zaragosa, coming off a loss to Korean expatriate Micah Shin in the Mindanao Regional in Davao over the weekend, shot a 75 for sixth, one shot behind Andres Saldana and Gabriel Manotoc.

AR Ramos had a 73 for third while Jama Reyes and Kenneth Kano made a pair of 76s to be in early contention for berths in the match play phase of the event backed by Pancake House, Titleist and Golf Depot.

Christopher Popp took the boy’s Group 2 lead with a 74, while junior world veteran and former Pepsi Little People’s champion Abby Arevalo, Micah Fortuna and Harmie Constantino set the pace in girl’s Group 2 with identical 78s.

Lorenzo opened and closed his back nine stint with birdies to seize early control while Zaragosa bogeyed Nos. 1 and 9 before parring all but one on his homeward trip for a 38-37.

Meanwhile, Shin rallied at the backside to the shocked Zaragosa, 2&1, and capture the National Golf Association of the Philippines’ Mindanao Regional crown at Apo Golf in Davao last Sunday.

Shin, 15, birdied No. 12 and then pounced on Zaragosa’s bogey mishap on the next to go 2-up. The reigning national junior champion struck back with a birdie on the 16^th but Shin countered by hitting a superb iron shot for a tap-in birdie to close out the match.

Top seed Pamela Mariano, meanwhile, lived up to her billing as he nipped No. 2 Eva Minoza on the second extra hole to bag the women’s crown in the event serving as the fifth leg of the NGAP-Globe Amateur circuit.

Joel Yamyamin posted a 6&4 romp over Alimar Etrone to clinch the Mid-Am crown, while Soc Cadayona won the senior plum with a 2&1 victory over Koichi Mihara.