Pinoy jr golfers drop to fifth after disastrous 17-over

DEFENDING champion Philippine juniors team, carded a disastrous 17-over 227 yesterday to fall behind by 16 shots to leaders Thailand at the midway point of the Lion City Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championships.

Cebuano golfer Gio Gandionco, who had a 73 in Tuesday’s opener, had a rollercoaster round at the up-and-down Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club course, making three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys for a four-over 74, the best score in a day of floundering fortunes for the souped-up squad.

Rupert Zaragoza, the reigning national junior and men’s champion, failed to get going after dropping two strokes on No. 12, hitting just one birdie against four more bogeys for a 75 while Andres Saldaña, who didn’t count with a 79 Tuesday, made five bogeys and two double bogeys against a lone birdie for a 78 that still counted for the team.

Clyde Mondilla, the best scorer in the first round with a 71, stumbled with a 79 and did not count.

It was a sorry round indeed for the Filipino junior players, who started the day just three behind the Thais after a decent 218 but dropped to fifth in a field of six teams. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio