Arevalo coasts to 6-shot win in FCG World

MANILA, Philippines - Abby Arevalo cruised to a six-shot victory over Chinese Yu Cen Han despite a shaky windup, closing out with a 72 and ruling the FCG World Championship presented by Callaway at the Redhawk Golf Club in Temecula, California Wednesday.

Arevalo, who earlier shot a 72 and 71 to seize control in the premier 15-18 age division, blew a two-under card after 14 holes with bogeys on the next two but watched her rivals stumble with poor finishes to coast to victory.

The top ICTSI-The Country Club bet finished with a one-under 215 to beat Yu, who bogeyed three of her last seven holes for a 73 and a 221 while Malaysian Natasha Andrea Oon placed third with a 223 after a 77.

Sam Martirez, also a member of the Team ICTSI-TCC, carded a second 75 and ended up sixth at 228.

It was Arevalo’s second triumph in the year after the young shotmaker upstaged teammate and former US Girls’ Junior champion Princess Superal to snare the RSGC Ambank Jungolf crown in Malaysia last April.

But while Arevalo posted a runaway win, teammate Sofia Chabon blew her lead and lost by one to American Zoe Campos in the 13-14 division of the annual tournament which drew some of the world’s leading and rising junior players.

Kristina Natalia Yoko of Indonesia shot a 69 to tie for third with American Daphne Chao, who hobbled with a 74, at 218.

Over in Oklahoma, Annika Cedo matched Lois Kaye Go’s last two pars to pound out a 1-up victory and advance to the Last 32 phase of the US Girls’ Junior at the Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa.

Cedo will next play Chinese Muni He, who routed Simar Singh, 5 and 4.

Pauline del Rosario failed to sustain her rally of three birdies in the last six holes and absorbed a 4 and 2 beating from Angel Yin of the US in their side of the knockout duel.

Cedo and Go arranged an early all-Pinay clash after both tied for 29th with nine others at 144 at the end of the 36-hole stroke plays in the event won by Superal last year.