Golf: Andres Saldana, Pauline del Rosario lead sixth Faldo Series

Gen. Trias — Andres Saldana and Pauline del Rosario bucked testy conditions at the Faldo course to lead the way in their respective divisions after the first round of the sixth Faldo Series Philippines Championship.              With the summer heat and the Eagle Ridge Golf’s long par 72 layout battering the participants, Saldana’s nine-over 81 was enough for a three-shot edge over Don Petil and Jonar Austria in the boys’ 21-under.              Del Rosario, meanwhile, showed her course familiarity as she shot a five-over 77 to pace the girls’ 16-under. She was one ahead off ICTSI teammate Princess Superal, while Chanelle Avaricio was on third with an 82.              Other contenders out to foil del Rosario’s bid in the 54-hole event organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines were Sofia Chabon (84) and Mikhaela Fortuna (87).              The winners in this Philippine edition of the Faldo Series will receive invitations to the Asia Final on March 2014 at the Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China where six-time Major champion Nick Faldo will be on hand. Junior golfer Jonas Magcalayo churned out a four-over-par 76 to lead in the boys’ under-18 category. Ram Ram Roque checked in with a 78 while Filipino-Japanese Yasuma Ryu came in with an 81. Dan Emilio Cruz came through with a 77 for a two-shot edge in the boys’ 16-under. He was followed by Ryan Monsalve, who had an 81.  Jose Sajulga and Carlos Packing were tied on 82s. In the girls’ 21-under, last year’s winner in the Asia Final girls’ 21-under Marvi Monsalve jumpstarted her bid for another shot at the title with an 81, one better than the 82 of Park Eun-che.  The statuesque Jan Punzalan wound up with an 87. Luis Miguel Castro (75-Boys Class C), Jolo Magcalayo (84-Boys Class D) and Gao Wei-fang (98-Girls Class D) were the other pace-setters in their respective divisions. - AMD, GMA News