19-year-old golfing pride of Cordillera wins amateur golf tilt in Florida

Photo Courtesy || Fil-am Golf Media  via PNA

Cordillera - A young parbuster from La Trinidad, Benguet won the Bridgestone Tournament of Champions held at the Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday.

19-year-old Luigi Paolo Wong who is a member of the Philippine team closed with a three under par for a three-round total of five under 211 to win the games in Florida.

Wong, who saw action in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Malaysia had earlier rounds of two under 70 and even par 72 to take the crown in the event, which he had "accidentally" joined. 

"Paolo was supposed to just visit his coach in Florida for some swing adjustment, but he took advantage of joining this tournament which is played just an hour drive away from his coach's place," his sibling Da Net Wong told told the Philippines News Agency (PNA).

Paolo shot a total of 5 under for three days, a 2-under 70 on the first day, an even par 72 on the second day and three-under 69 on the last day, according to Da Net. 

Wong learned and honed his skills at the Baguio Country Club and John Hay golf course about seven kilometers from his hometown in La Trinidad. 

He is the second Cordilleran to make good in national golf, the first is Baguio-raised Mars Pucay who was the best amateur golfer in the city and later became a top pro. 

Wong, together with Carl Jano Corpus, Sean Jean Ramos and Aidric Chan will be leaving for Japan in two weeks to compete in the Toyota World Junior Championship. 

source || PNA