ICTSI girls sweep Kids World titles

MANILA, Philippines - Pauline del Rosario and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas completed a pair of wire-to-wire victories in their respective divisions while Mikhaela Fortuna outsteadied Malaysian Siti Shaargi to cop the 13-14 crown and complete Team ICTSI-Philippines’ sweep of the 2013 Kids World Golf Championship Malaysia in Johor late Thursday.

Del Rosario matched her opening round output of one-under 71 at the Pulai Springs Course to dominate the 54-hole tournament with a two-under 214 total, beating Indonesian Gavvilla Arya by a whopping 16-stroke margin in the premier 15-18 category.

Arya failed to press her final round bid and ended up with a second 76 for a 230 while Thai Saranlak Tumfung turned in a 75 for a 235. Sam Martirez, the other ICTSI-backed bet, fumbled with an 81 for a 240.

A Junior World champion in the 13-14 age bracket in San Diego earlier in the year, Del Rosario thus capped her sterling campaign in the season that also included a strong third place finish in the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event in Baguio last October.

Olivarez-Ilas, however, posted the more impressive romp, shooting a second straight two-under 70 at the Palm Resort’s Cempaka course to whip Butsakorn Moonfong by 20 shots in the 11 year-olds category.

Olivarez-Ilas finished with a 214 total while her Thai rival hobbled with a 76 for a 234 and Myanmar’s Thin Wai Khaing ended up third at 248 after a 79.

Fortuna capped the Filipina golfers’ domination of the annual event by taking the 13-14 division crown despite a final round 76. Two strokes down at the start of the event, Fortuna carded a 74 to tie Shaargi for the lead Wednesday then edged the local ace in their backside duel in the final round to win by two on a 226 aggregate. Shaargi wound up with a 78 for a 228 while Indon Rivana Sinotung placed third with a 233 after a 75.