JUSTIN TAMBUNTING overcame a four-hole deficit in the morning round to clinch the boy crown while Bambee dela Paz pulled off a shocking upset in winning the girls plum in of The Montecillo Cup: The Philippine Junior Golf Championships at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.
Tambunting was four behind finals opponent Miko Alejandro after the first 18 holes but won the first three holes of the afternoon round en route to scoring a 2 up win against his bosom buddy and Manila Southwoods teammate.
"This is just the perfect way to end my jungolf career," said the 17-year-old Tambunting who doesn’t see himself competing in a lot more jungolf events after the summer circuit.
For Dela Paz, she nailed a victory that hopefully leads to a new beginning.
A longshot at the start of the tournament, Dela Paz carrying the colors of Miriam College worked her way to 2 up win against the heavily favored Crystal Superal for her biggest victory yet as a jungolfer.
"I didn’t expect this but I know this is one good reason for me to work even harder," said Dela Paz after her win in the second major leg of the Samsung Jungolf Tour also given major backing by Philippine Airlines with Titleist/Dynamic Sports Corp., Toyota Motor Philippines, Corp., Manila Southwoods and Unilever as minor sponsors.
Amalia Montecillo, founder of the jungolf movement in whose honor the tourney was held as part of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines’ 30th year anniversary celebration, personally handed out the trophies to the top finishers.
Jungolf president Raoul Lachica said that they were just too happy to have organized one event for the person who started it all and continues to inspire the jungolfers and it shall now become an annual event.
Lachica was joined by the previous presidents of Jungolf in honoring Ms. Montecillo during the awarding at the Southwoods clubhouse.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Jungolf Tour resumes tomorrow at the Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas.
