YADA, BRITTANY STEAL THE SHOW AT SPORTEXCEL INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR GOLF MEET

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Japan's Kenshi Yada cruised to a massive 11-shot victory in the boys’ overall category at the SportExcel International Junior Golf Championships, which ended at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam yesterday.

Yada produced a consistent performance to card rounds of 70-69-66 for a three-day total of 11-under 205, leaving Malaysia's Liew Connor Axel Kai to settle for second spot with a three-round total of even-par 216 (72-73-71).

Japan's Daichi Hayashi also carded a 216 (72-72-72) total but finished third on countback.

In the girls’ overall category, the Philippines made it a 1-2 finish after Brittany Pauline Tamayo (76-73-73) and Lisa Angeles Sarines (71-77-74) both carded three-round totals of six-over 222, with Britanny triumphing on countback.

Malaysia's Nur Batrisyia Balqis (75-75-74) was third with an eight-over 224 total.

Meanwhile, the Philippines emerged champions in the team category with a three-day total of 655, with Thailand (658) and Malaysia (661) finishing second and third, respectively.

The three-day meet, which began on Wednesday (Jan 14), featured 112 young golfers from 11 countries teeing off in the nine-to-21 age-group categories for boys and girls.

RESULTS:

OVERALL:

BOYS

205: Kenshi Yada (JPN) 70-69-66; 216: Liew Connor Axel Kai (MAS) 72-73-71, Daichi Hayashi (JPN) 72-72-72 - Liew Connor won on countback; 217: Muhammad Afham (MAS) 71-71-75, Vito Angeles Sarines (PHI) 75-65-77

GIRLS

222: Brittany Pauline Tamayo (PHI) 76-73-73, Lisa Angeles Sarines (PHI) 71-77-74 - Brittany won on countback; 224: Nur Batrisyia Balqis (MAS) 75-75-74, Mona Angeles Sarines (PHI) 74-73-77; 226: Jamie Tan Huan Ying (MAS) 78-74-74

TEAM

1. Philippines (655); 2. Thailand (658); 3. Malaysia (661).

-- BERNAMA