Fortuna reaches WWGA final

MANILA, Philippines - Mikha Fortuna pulled off another escape act in the morning quarterfinal match then dominated her semifinal rival in the afternoon to barge into the finals of the Women’s Western Golf Association’s 116th National Amateur Championships at the Dayton Country Club in Dayton, Ohio Friday.

Playing with so much confidence and toughened up by a series of thrilling victories in the pressure-packed knockout stage, Fortuna, who will turn 16 late this year, moved 36 holes away from nailing her biggest victory, this being one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the US with world ranking points at stake in the same level of the US Women’s Amateur and the US Girls’ Junior.

“I’m thrilled to getting a crack at the championship. It’s been a good week for me. My ball-striking is quite okay and my irons and putting are working. I just hope to sustain my form and continue to get the breaks,” said Fortuna, who repulsed last year’s finalist Lydia Gumm on the 22nd hole in the quarters then trounced Sophia Schubert, 3&2, in the Final Four.

“She’s due for a big win as she’s been playing with so much confidence, hitting the right shots and getting the right breaks,” said TCC coach Bong Lopez. “It’s a question of staying focused and getting the job done in a marathon finale.”

The top The Country Club bet, who won two matches through 19 holes on her way to the quarters, dominated Gumm, No. 120 in the world amateur ranking, early on, going 3-up after 13 holes spiked by birdies on Nos. 2 and 9. But the Kentucky ace struck back and took the next four holes, including a birdie on No. 14, a Fortuna bogey on the next, another birdie on the 16th and another bogey from her rival to wrest a 1-up lead heading to the 18th.

Fortuna, however, refused to give up and hit two solid shots on the closing par-4 hole, a 260-yard drive and a superb approach shot from 90 yards to five feet past hole. She made the putt to force an all-square match.

They battled and traded pars in the next three extra holes before the De La Salle-Zobel mainstay closed out with a routine two-putt par from another brilliant approach shot on the 22nd to clinch the match.

Barely recovering from that grueling win, Fortuna, who has scored a number of victories abroad, including the Sabah and Pondok Indah Junior Open last year, lost the opening hole to Schubert but drew level on the fifth then took charge after her Tennessee rival bogeyed No. 10.

Fortuna, who finished joint 14th in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier, pressed her bid from there, winning two more holes with birdies on Nos. 13 and 15 en route to a 3&2 win and a clash with local bet Hollis, who shared 24th place in the elims.

The finals is a 36-hole affair.

Hollis, meanwhile, edged Grace St.-Germain, 2-up, in the quarters then nipped Kelly Whaley on the 22nd hole to seal a title clash with the rising Filipina star.