Ilas, Dy nail Jr World titles

SAN DIEGO – Two young golf prodigies delivered the goods for Team Philippines, which got back into the elite circle of champions in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships here Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, 10, shot it out with three California kids and endured some trying moments before pulling through, shooting a one-over-par 57 at the Lomas Santa Fe executive course that was good enough for a two-stroke victory with a 54-hole aggregate of 167 in the girls 9-10 years category.

Jed Dy, on the other hand, became the tournament’s comeback kid when he fought his way back from a four-shot deficit with an eagle-spiked five-under 57 to nip Thai bet Wit Pipat by just a stroke in the boys 7-8 years at the Oaks North course.

The incoming third grader at the Chinese International School Manila dished out a flawless front nine by hitting all nine greens in regulation, making two birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 and hitting an eagle on the eighth for a four under card to draw level with Pipat who was even par at the turn.

Dy seized the lead on the 13th which Pipat bogeyed only to give the stroke back on the next with a bogey coupled by a birdie feat by the Thai.

But Dy rammed in a five-footer for birdie on No. 16 which Pipat bogeyed for a crucial two-shot swing that gave the Filipino bet the lead he never relinquished.

The Thai refused to give up when he matched a birdie by Dy on the 17th but missed forcing a playoff on the last hole with a missed birdie putt.

Dy two-putted from 15-feet to claim his first victory in the annual event that gathered 1,100 junior players from 52 countries.

Dy finished at 184 after earlier rounds of 66 and 61 while Pipat, who led the first two rounds with a 59 and 64, ended at 185.

Bernice found herself challenged in different points of the final round by California bets Yukino Yoshinara (53-169) Karah Stanford (55-170) and Ashley Park (60-172). Park drew level on the fourth and Sanford on the 12th but Ilas’ consistency took the best of them.

Flown to the US by the country’s flag-carrier Philippine Airlines and supported by the International Terminal Container Services, Inc., the Philippine team also posted three other top 10 finishes. Mia Legaspi and Sam Martinez did 68 and 70, respectively, to tie for seventh in the girls 13-14 years at 215 and Harmie Nicole Constantino whose 75-226 gave her a share of ninth in the girls 11-12.

“It’s a great day for Philippine golf. We’re back in the champions club here in the Junior World and I think Jed and Bernice deserve their victories because of all the hardwork they’ve done for their campaign in the US,” said Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of Philippines.

The Philippines last won in 2010 behind Rupert Zaragoza, who dominated the boys’ 11-12 division.

The twin victories also formed part of a near domination by Asians of the tourney that saw Thailand winning two titles (girls 6 under and boys 11-12), Japan two (girls 7-8), China two (boys 13-14 and girls11-12) and Australia the boys 9-10 years.

Thailand is also poised to win the girls 15-17 years where Andie Unson (72-222) and Princess Superal (75-223) fell far behind the leading Thai teener at Torrey Pines north.

Gio Gandionco, meanwhile, finally broke par after two so-so rounds with his 70 at Torrey Pines south lifting him to a share of 13th place.