VELINDA CASTIL had a wobbly front side but battled back in a fashion rarely seen in a junior golfer by birdying two of the last four holes to salvage a second straight 73 to keep the lead in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Del Monte Championship in Bukidnon.
Castil’s birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 made up for her double-bogey on the first hole and a bogey on the ninth and her late rebound stood out in a rainy day when Harmie Constantino and Daniella Uy limped with mishaps at Del Monte Golf Club’s tough finishing holes and fell off the leaderboard.
With a 146 aggregate and a one-shot lead over new pursuer Pamela Mariano, the 15-year-old Castil candidly admitted the pressure to deliver in her first pro tournament is mounting while doubts begin to creep into her young mind.
“I sort of feel nervous, I’m ahead by only 1,” said Castil, who is coming off a runner-up finish in the 15-18 age group of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) VisMin Classic at Pueble de Oro last Sunday that earned her a slot in next month’s national finals.
“I hope to maintain my poise tomorrow (Thursday),” added the Manolo Fortich native who moved 18 holes away from becoming the youngest—and the first junior—to win on the Ladies PGT.
0 Comments