The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Nicole Gaisano-Gan shot an even-par 72 as she dominated the 13-14 girls category, while her sister Stephanie scored a two-under 34 to win the 8-under girls division in the Rio Honda meet of the US Kids Golf Foundation at the Rio Honda Golf Club last week in Downey, California USA.
The 13-year-old Nicole, a Grade 8 student at Immaculate Conception Academy in San Juan City, had a total of 30 points, besting Miyuki Shimada and Aria Wang of the US as the two both shot a six-over 78 for similar 17.50 points in the one-day tournament organized by the US Kids Golf Foundation.
As for the seven-year-old Stephanie, she bested Arcella Rocha Santoso of Singapore and Sofia Shen of the US as the two had identical scores of even-par 36 in their nine-hole competition. Gaisano-Gan received 30 points, while Santoso and Shen both got 17.50 points.
Brianna Macasaet also won her division, the 9-10 girls bracket as she fired a two-under 34 of a nine-hole competition, besting Naomi Cho and Olivia Espina of the US as the two carded even- 36, as well as Filipino-American and 2023 Junior World champion Tegan Tudla (37).
The lone Filipino winner in the boy’s category was Andres Gabriel Jeturian, who finished with a three-under 33 to beat second placer Matthew Rivera (48), as well as Payton Baldonado and Robbie Davis – both with 51 – all from the US in the boy’s six-under division.
Lucas de Guzman missed a podium finish as he placed seventh overall in the boy’s eight-under after a 41 in a nine-hole competition, six shots behind champion Joseph Dominic Tumaneng (35) of the US.
The 7-year-old golf prospect, however, bounced back a few days later as he ruled the seven-under boy’s division of the So Cal State Invitational with a two-day score of five-under 67 following rounds of 32 and 35 on a nine-hole event held at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, California.
De Guzman bested Matthew Hwang and Landyn Kelly of the US as the two both carded a 73.