Golf: Mikhaela Fortuna takes early lead in Jack Nicklaus Junior Tourney

SHENZEN — Mikhaela Fortuna birdied two of the last five holes for a two-under-par 70 to open up a one-shot lead in the Jack Nicklaus Junior Tournament 2014 at the Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup course.
                  
The 13-year-old Fortuna, one of three Team ICTSI members competing here, was one-over at the turn as she birdied thrice, dropped two strokes on the third hole, and bogeyed the seventh.
                  
But the budding Filipina shot-maker leveled par with a birdie on No. 11, then set up consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th for a 36-34 card. She was ahead of teammate Pauline del Rosario.
                  
Del Rosario, champion of the girls 13-14 division in the Junior World Championship, turned in a modest even-par 72 and shared second spot with Li Kai-wing of Hong Kong and Sui Xiang of China in the girls’ under-15 category.
                  
Princess Superal, also of ICTSI, was a bit off form and scored a five-over 77 to be seven adrift from Chinese Taipei’s Lai Yi-ting in the girls’ under-18.  Taiwanese Chang Yu-Hsin was second with a two-over 74.
                  
The Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship is organized annually under the guidance of golf legend Jack Nicklaus with the specific purpose of promoting junior golf in general and in China in particular.

Nicklaus’ love and passion for junior golf development is Mission Hills’ inspiration as it aims to create opportunities for all juniors to develop and compete against each other under tournament conditions.

Mission Hills is also hoping to produce future Champions while drawing inspiration from Nicklaus. - AMD, GMA News