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Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Wong clinches Girls golf title
Hannah Wong scored a major upset by defeating Abby Olea in the first extra hole to secure her first Girls Club Championship crown.
No one gave the third-seeded 15-year-old much of a chance against the 12-year-old Olea, as the latter finished 16 strokes ahead during the qualifying stages.
But in match play, anything can happen.
The final had an electric atmosphere with galleries packed as early as the second hole. And the players did not fail to disappoint, as they wowed the gallery with a display of spectacular golf – from Wong’s deft touch with her wedge to Olea’s incredible length and ball-striking skills.
In control
Wong drew first blood on the fourth hole to go 1-up, but Olea drew even on the fifth with an up-and-down par. Wong missed a four-footer on the eight to go 1-down, and Olea hit to within four feet on her approach to take the ninth.
Despite missing the green on the 10th and 11th, Wong managed to match Olea’s par on both holes thanks to her deft short game touch. Another regulation par by Olea on the 12th put her 3-up and firmly in control of the match.
However, Wong did not panic, parring the 13th to the 15th, an extremely difficult stretch of holes dubbed as CCC’s version of “Amen Corner,” to even up the match.
With momentum shifting to Wong’s side, Olea countered with a birdie on the 16th to go 1-up. The 17th hole was halved, so they headed to the 18th with Olea 1-up.
Shot of the tournament
Then Wong hit the shot of the tournament. She hit her approach shot with a 7-wood to within 3-feet for a birdie on the 18th hole to tie up the match and force a sudden death playoff.
Olea blinked first and found the hazard to the left with her second shot in the first extra hole. Wong pitched to hole-high, while Olea made a double bogey. Wong made things interesting by blowing her par putt five feet by the hole, but she sank it to seal the win.
The road to the title was not easy for Wong. In the semifinals, she had to face her elder sister Jyra – a player she has never beaten in match play – but she held on to win, 3 and 2. It was Jyra’s last Girls Club Championship, as she also moves to Manila for college.
Dedication
The younger Wong dedicated her win to her older sister.
“This is for her,” said the younger Wong shortly after her match, which her elder sister watched in its entirety.
Following tradition, the players were caddied by fellow jungolfers. Wong’s bag was carried by longtime close-friend Charles Uy.
“I know how much this means to her and it is a nice feeling to be part of that,” said Uy.
“This summer program couldn’t have been scripted any better. Our two champions Chuckie and Hannah represent everything good in our jungolf program, while our two finalists, Big Jan and Abby, show what the future holds for us,” said jungolf chairman Jovi Neri.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 17, 2006 issue)
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