Frances Noelle Bondad, a former member of the Philippine national team, did not only embrace Australian citizenship but has also turned professional.

Bondad’s choice to turn professional was a no-brainer because she is Australia’s No. 1 amateur to date.

“A friend, Nikki Garret, said that one has to be at least the No. 1 Australian amateur for two years for one to know when she is ready for the bigger challenges,” said the five-foot-three Bondad, a champion of the Philippine Ladies Open in 2004 and Philippines Amateurs in 2005.

Bondad will soon be joining in qualifying events to earn her tour card for both the United States and European Tours.  She is doing so without a sponsor.

“My mom is going to mortgage the house for $100,000. It means there is quite a bit of pressure.  I’ll just have to do what I have to do.  I have no time to think about all the pressure,” said the 19-year-old who was born in Los Angeles to Filipino parents Noel and Julieta.

She flies to the US in October to play in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) sectional qualifying tournament at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.  The top 30 finishers then head to the LPGA International at Daytona Beach Florida in late November.

Miñoza pockets half a million

Frankie Miñoza shot an even-par 70 to share 13th spot with 209 in the Suntory Open 2007 won by Japanese Hideto Tanihara (66-202) at the Sobu Country Club in Chiba, Japan. Miñoza earned ¥1,277,857 (about P500,000) in his third top 15 finish in his last six events.

Rains halt Arkansas tilt

Filipina-American Dorothy Delasin was at three-under-par 69 and was tied with Natalie Gulbis, Julieta Granada, Pat Hurst and Cristie Kerr in 11th place while Jennifer Rosales was at 73 when the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) suspended play at the NW Arkansas Championship Saturday at  the Pinnacle Golf Club in Rogers in Arkansas because of heavy rains.

Chia tops Asean Golf Tour

Malaysia’s Danny Chia shot a two-under-par 70 (291) for a morale-boosting victory (in the inaugural $50,000 International Championship at the Imperial Klub Golf in Jakarta. Marvin Dumandan, the overnight leader, dropped to fourth after a horrendous 81 for 295.

Twice Over

ATENEO has beaten De La Salle twice, and the Blue Eagles now have the twice-to-beat incentive in their eyes.

Chris Tiu sank a triple with 17.8 seconds left—and Rico Maierhofer’s potential game-tying lay-up came a tad too late—to lift Ateneo to a nerve-wracking 89-87 squeaker over its bitter-rival in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 70 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the filled-to-the-rafters Araneta Coliseum.

Going ’international’ would do pro league better

AMIABLE Red Bull team manager Tony Chua wants nothing but the best not only for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) but for Philippine basketball as well.

RENAULD “Sonny” Barrios calls himself the ’Bagong Luma [The new old],’ luma [old] for he had served the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for 18 years as a trusted soldier of commissioners Rudy Salud and the late Jun Bernardino.

EVEN his loyal fans laughed at the idea of him dipping his fingers into politics and showbusiness.

Now, Manny Pacquiao will try to make his followers laugh as the Filipino boxing sensation recently signed a two-year deal that will make him one of the newest sitcom personalities on Philippine TV.

Bondad turns pro as an Australian

Frances Noelle Bondad, a former member of the Philippine national team, did not only embrace Australian citizenship but has also turned professional.

Bleachers’ Brew: Here’s one for the thankless

WHEN I was in school, I had for neighbors former Ateneo Blue Eagle Boogie Pamintuan (from the 1958 and 1961 NCAA champs and who passed away several years ago), the late National U Bulldogs mentor Sonny Paguia (God bless his soul), and then-San Miguel Beer rookie Bong Ravena.