Benguet’s 19-year-old parbuster wins Florida amateur golf tilt

By Pigeon M. Lobien

LA TRINIDAD- Benguet’s parbuster Luigi Paolo Wong won the Bridgestone Tournament of Champions held at the Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday (local time).

The 19-year-old 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 of the event, which he had “accidentally” joined.

“(Paolo) was supposed to just visit his coach in Florida for some swing adjustments, 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 this writer in a conversation over social media platform “Messenger”.

 “He 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 a three -under 69 (on) the last day,” Da Net Wong said.

 “Dito na lang niya inapply (ang) mga adjustments nila ni coach (He applied the adjustments made by him and his coach in the tournament),” Wong’s sister added. It added that “his (Paolo’s) visit to his coach is part of his preparation for incoming big tournaments.”

This will include the SEAG qualifier on the first week of June at the Luisita Golf in Tarlac, Tarlac and the Toyota World Junior Team Golf Championship at Nagoya, Japan on June 14 to 22. Wong is also scheduled to see action in the Future Champions Golf (FCG) International Tour at Sycuan, San Diego on July 2- 6; the July 8-12 IMG Junior World Championship at the world famous Torrey Pines also in San Diego and the San Diego Amateur on July13-14, all at California in the United States of America.

Wong learned and honed his skills at the Baguio Country Club and John Hay golf courses here, some seven kilometers from his hometown of La Trinidad.

He returned to his home courses in 2017 to help Manila Southwoods sweep the Championship crowns, then for Royal Northwoods, which is near their Metro Manila residence, last year which lost to Southwoods.

 Wong 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. — PNA