Gabasa, Unson post best scores in Callaway juniors

With only 10 players breaking par at the treacherous North Course, the 73 and 74 each of Philippine bets Irina Gabasa and Andrea Unson proved decent scores in the girls' 15-17 division of the 2011 Callaway Junior World Championships in San Diego, California. Gabasa doubled bogeyed the 17th but birdied the 18th to salvage a one-under card while Unson, who topped the US Women's Amateur qualifier a few days ago, mixed three birdies against the same number of bogeys. However, the Filipina junior standouts will have their hands full in trying to catch up with leader Lina Aquillon of Columbia, who sizzled with a six-under-par 68 at the par-74 Torrey Pines Golf. Alexandra Wong of California and Kim Hyo-joo of Korea are tied for second place with 71s. "It was pretty tough out there. I'm behind, but not that far from Lina," said Unson, who will play in the US Women's Amateur on August 8 to 14 at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, Rhode Island. Dottie Ardina, who is coming off an ego-boosting win in the San Diego Junior Masters a week ago, groped for form in the nine holes coming home, bogeying Nos. 10, 14, 15 and 18 to go with her lone birdie on the par-five 13th. She made even par in the first nine and signed for a 77. "It was not the kind of game I hope for," said Ardina, the three-time Junior World champion in three different divisions. Compatriots Marvi Monsalve and Angela de Villa of the Philippines turned in 79s while Sarah Jane Ababa, who will also compete at the US Women's Amateur, submitted an 80. In the boys' 15-17 division, little known Lloyd Go carded a two-over 74 and was the best placed Filipino, six strokes adrift from Japan's Kenta Konishi. Princess Superal, who topped the Class B in the recent San Diego Junior Masters, came through with a 72 to lay two shots behind in the girls' 13-14 category. Thailand's Thanyathorn Saengpongnapa lorded it over with a superb eight-under 64 in the boys' 13-14. Filipino Sebastian Lorenzo had a 71. - Adrian Flores/JVP, GMA News