Filipino Marcel Puyat produced a final-round one-under-par 71 to claim his third title in the sixth leg of the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT).

Puyat beat South African Jason Roets and Danish Nicolai Kokholm in a close shootout in the event staged at the Falcon’s Fire Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.

Marcel, a member of the Ictsi golf program, carded a two-under-70 and tallied an aggregate 141 in the 36-hole, stroke-play tournament organized by the IJGT group.  He was two shots off the 143 (75-68) of Roets, a student of the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.

It was not an easy win, though, for Puyat.  With five holes to go, he was locked in a three-way tie at the top with Roets and Kokholm. 

But the Filipino quickly regained the lead when he birdied the par-four, 426-yard No. 14 with an eight-foot downhill putt, then made it a two-stroke spread after a relatively easy birdie on the 15th and three pars coming home.

“I dedicate this win to my mom Dixie and dad Eu for their continuous support,” said Puyat, who notched his third IJGT title in six events overall.

The IJGT was founded in 1995 for junior golfers ages 11 to 19. Its purpose is to provide aspiring collegiate players the opportunity to compete in a series of events against the highest quality US and international competition.  Nearly 2,000 junior golfers representing 45 states and more than 30 countries compete in the IJGT. 

Puyat has been impressive—and even striking fear—because just a week ago, he captured the fifth leg of the IJGT at the Saddlebrook Golf Resort in Tampa, Florida. 

Puyat was on fire that week as he churned out two subpar round of four-under 68 and two-under 70 for a 138 total and bested Juan Carlos Benitez of Mexico by five strokes.

With that victory, he has already pocketed four titles, including the 2007 Teens On The Greens World Championship in San Antonio, Texas, and the first leg of IJGT at the Legacy Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.

Puyat’s double victory assured him enough merit points to compete in the American Junior Golf Association summer tournament beginning in June till August.

Back to square one

SALT LAKE CITY—Kobe Bryant frowned and pulled out his newest acquisition, an electro-stimulation device that traveled along his aching back.

Lion King

Alex “The lion”  Pagulayan disposed of compatriot Francisco “Django” Bustamante, 8-4, in the semifinals, and then came from behind to turn back fellow former world champion Mika Immonen, 8-6, to crown himself champion of the 2008 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters Monday at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

TWO Filipinos are now in the Czech Republic strutting their stuff in baseball.

Pitcher Jon Jon Robles of the University of Santo Tomas and the Makati Mariners, and Edgar de los Reyes, the national team manager, have been recruited to play for the Arrows Ostrava in the Extraliga, a Czech commercial league which is one of the more popular leagues in Europe.

BAGUIO CITY—Even in high altitude, Harbour Centre managed to hold fort to move to a win away of returning to the finals for the fifth-straight time.

Filipino Marcel Puyat produced a final-round one-under-par 71 to claim his third title in the sixth leg of the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT).

HORSE owner Nery Sunga, of 2008 Horse of the Year Es Twenty Six fame, is such a very busy man ever since.

While attending to his main business managing the Sanry Foreign Exchange, he still has time to look into the needs of his constituents in barangay Guadalupe in Makati. Besides, he also has time managing his several minihotels and resorts all at the same time.