Espartero, two others shine in Junior PH Golf Tour

ALONSO Espartero posted a pair of runner-up finishes and one third-place effort to capture the overall crown in the ICTSI 2023 Junior PGT series held under the drive, chip and putt format at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas on Sunday.

Espartero came away with 128 points to beat David Serdenia by five in the Round 2 of the boys’ 15-18 age category and lead the two other category wi nners—Harry Sales and Maria Montserrat

Lapuz—in the one-day tournament disputed over the three basic aspects of the sport.

Sales, an incoming Grade 10 student at Gov. Hills Science School, topped Round 3 of the boys’ 13-14 division with 124 points while Lapuz, homeschooled with Kolbe Academy (Grade 8), scored 105 points to run away with the girls’ 13-14 trophy in Round 4 play in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and held to develop players from the junior ranks and expand the base of golfing talents in the country.

Serdenia pooled a 123-point total while Sung came in third overall with 109 points in the premier boys’ division, while Sales defeated Luciano Copok (106) and Rafael Leonio (97), and Lapuz routed Chloe Lim and Levonne Talion, who wound up with 90 and 73 points, respectively.

Espartero finished tied for second with Shinichi Suzuki worth 40 points in chipping topped by Serdenia (45 points), with Eron Sung placing third with 35 points, while Suzuki notched 55 points in putting where Espartero likewise tied for second with Tyler Zamuco worth 50 points.

Sung also ended up third with 46 points.

Mark Kobayashi, on the other hand, took the driving honors with 49 points with Serdenia finishing second (43 points) and Espartero and Vasco Esquivel sharing third place for 38 points apiece.

In girls’ 13-14, Lapuz garnered 30 points to emerge on top in chipping, placed second in driving worth 40 points and made 35 points in a third-place effort in putting to underscore her superb all-around play.

Lim edged Lapuz in driving with 42 points while Talion wound up third with 24 points; Talion and Lim placed second and third for 13 and 12 points, respectively, in chipping; while Chloe Rada shone on the greens and scored 40 points with Talion and Lim sharing second place worth 36 points each.

Olivarez seeks back-to-back romp at home

ERIC Jed Olivarez hopes to ride the crest of a big title run in Puerto Princesa last week and flourish on the indoor clay courts he calls home as he guns for a second straight victory in the Mayor Eric Olivarez Cup National Open Tennis Championships, which gets going today (Monday, Aug. 14) in Sucat, Parañaque.

Olivarez turned back doubles partner Charles Kinaadman, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, to capture the Rep. Edward Hagedorn Open crown in a victory that had kept him in the conversation heading to this week’s Group A championship featuring the country’s leading players at the Olivarez Sports Center and Parañaque Tennis Courts.

Event organizer Bobby Mangunay said they are using two courts to accommodate the big number of entries with the tournament also featuring the men’s and women’s doubles, the juniors grand slam 18-and-under singles and doubles for boys and girls.

Also on tap are the Legends men’s doubles 30s, 40s and 50s, men’s singles 35s and 45s, and women’s doubles 30s.

The week-long event offers a total prize fund of P338,000 with the men’s singles Open winner to pocket P50,000 plus trophy and UTP (Unified Tennis Philippines) and UTR (Universal Tennis) points.

But while he brims with confidence after ending a long quest for a major win in Palawan, the fourthranked Olivarez faces an uphill battle in the 64-player draw headlined by multi-titled Johnny Arcilla, Jose Maria Pague, Vicente Anasta, Nilo Ledama, Noel Damian, Eric Tangub and Jeleardo Amazona. Olivarez, who upended Arcilla in the semis in the Hagedorn Open, battles Nino Paz in the first round with Arcilla taking on Paolo Corpuz, Pague slugging it out with Gouji Manansala, Anasta tangling with Christian Melitante, Ledama clashing with Joseph Carrasco, Damian mixing it up with Lexious Cruz, Tangub trading shots with John Amora, and Amazona testing Carolina Junsay’s mettle.

SYDNEY—England say they are relishing play ing in front of what promises to be a partisan 80,000 home crowd in their Women’s World Cup semi-final against co-hosts Australia on Wednesday.

The European champions had a taste of what awaits when they fought back from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 on Saturday during what felt like a home game for the well-supported South Americans.

The Lionesses will be back at the imposing Stadium Australia in Sydney on Wednesday with both teams attempting to win the World Cup for the first time.

Alessia Russo scored the winner in the 63rd minute against a physical Colombia and the Arsenal forward said she had enjoyed playing in front of a hostile crowd.

“That’s what the World Cup is all about—seeing top teams on the biggest stage with their fans behind them,” she said.

“We’ve had a taste of that tonight because their fans were incredible and (Australia) is another test, but one that is exciting, not only to face the hosts but to be in a semi-final.

“So yes, keeping the dream alive.”

England’s Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman praised her side’s resilience, having fallen behind in the 44th minute, before Lauren Hemp’s equaliser in firsthalf injury time and Russo’s winner.

They will need plenty of that character if they are to overcome an Australia side who prevailed 7-6 on penalties over France and have the weight of a nation behind them.

“That’s huge, but this was big too. It felt like an away game, but we just concentrated,” Wiegman said.

“It’s just really fantastic that we can be here and be part of it.

“We’re through to the semi-finals and we are going to stay till the end of the tournament.”

Wiegman was asked by one reporter whether she fully appreciated the longstanding sporting rivalry between her adopted country and Australia.

“I just think it’s going to be really big but I’ve now had a couple of questions about it so it’s probably going to be bigger than I imagine now,” said Wiegman, who took the Netherlands to the 2019 final, where they lost 2-0 to the United States.