TEAM PHILIPPINES SURGES INTO LEAD AT WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

Richmond Hill, Ont., native Monet Chun shoots 72 to lead Canadians

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – A steady wind blew through Mississaugua Golf and Country Club as the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship got underway. Despite the gusty conditions, the trio representing the Philippines built a distinct early advantage to top the team competition by 11 strokes.

Leading the way was Yuko Saso of Santa Rosa, Philippines, who posted seven birdies on the day en route to a 6-under 66 with her lone blemish coming by way of a bogey on No. 3.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all, I was trying to just enjoy the course and the moment today,” said Saso. “I was hitting well, especially my second shots and my putting. I was able to get the speeds of the greens, which was good because they were fast.”

The 15-year-old felt comfortable with the wind, having taken it into account in her game plan coming into the round.

“The course was hard today and the wind made it even tougher. I made sure to add five to 10 yards on each shot and I think I did well to manage the affects of the wind. Heading into tomorrow, I want to work on my driving and just remain focused. I’ll hit the putting green and then the range this afternoon.”

Holding second is Saso’s teammate Harmie Nicole Constantino from Taguig. The 15-year-old carded five birdies to reach 3-under. The pair and Sofia Angela Legaspi of Quezon City lead the team competition at a combined 9-under. Varel, Germany, native Esther Henseleit holds third and was the only other player to finish below-par with a 1-under showing.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., leads the six Canadians in the field. The 15-year-old holds a share of fourth at even-par alongside Italian Caterina Don of San Pietro Val Lemina.

“[The team element is] new and a lot of fun because we are staying as a team,” said Chun, a member of Canada One. “I have received a lot of support from the coaches and the other team members, so it has been great.”

With a total of 2-over 146, Canada One comprised of Chun, Mary Parsons (Delta, B.C.) and Chloe Currie (Mississauga, Ont.) are knotted in second with Team China and Team USA.

A selection of images from the first round of the World Junior Girls Championship can be downloaded here. When making use of the images, please credit (Herb Fung/ Golf Canada).

The second round of tournament play will begin at 8 a.m. Additional information from the competition can be found here.

2016 WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS – INDIVIDUAL

• 1. Yuko Saso, Philippines, *32-34-66 -6
• 2. Harmie Nicole Constantino, Philippines, *35-34-69 -3
• 3. Esther Henseleit, Germany, *35-36-71 -1
• 4. Monet Chun, Canada 1, *36-36-72 E
• 4. Caterina Don, Italy, *35-37-72 E
• 6. Du Mohan, China, *37-36-73 +1
• 6. Jin Man, China, *36-37-73 +1
• 6. Isabella Fierro, Mexico, *37-36-73 +1
• 6. Elizabeth Wang, United States of America, *37-36-73 +1
• 6. Jennifer Chang, United States of America, *37-36-73 +1
• 6. Hee-Jung Lim, Korea, *37-36-73 +1
• 12. Celine Borge, Norway, *39-35-74 +2
• 12. Mary Parsons, Canada 1, *35-39-74 +2
• 12. Isobel Wardle, England, *37-37-74 +2
• 12. Candice Mahe, France, *38-36-74 +2
• 12. Stephanie Astrup, Denmark, *39-35-74 +2
• 12. Maja Stark, Sweden, *38-36-74 +2
• 12. Mathilde Fredensborg, Denmark, *38-36-74 +2
• 12. Amanda Linnér, Sweden, *37-37-74 +2
• 20. Teresa Díez Moliner, Spain, *37-38-75 +3
• 20. Mika Liu, United States of America, *36-39-75 +3
• 20. Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Denmark, *37-38-75 +3
• 23. Madelene Stavnar, Norway, *36-40-76 +4
• 23. Sophie Lamb, England, *38-38-76 +4
• 25. Isabella Portokalis, Canada 2, *40-37-77 +5
• 25. Hannah Lee, Canada 2, *37-40-77 +5
• 25. Céleste Dao, Canada 2, *37-40-77 +5
• 25. Alexandra Föersterling, Germany, *37-40-77 +5
• 25. Angelica Moresco, Italy, *39-38-77 +5
• 25. Mathilde Claisse, France, *38-39-77 +5
• 25. Min-Gyeong Youn, Korea, *35-42-77 +5
• 32. Anna Backman, Finland, *38-40-78 +6
• 32. Elina Saksa, Finland, *37-41-78 +6
• 32. Emily Price, England, *41-37-78 +6
• 32. Hae-Ran Ryu, Korea, *38-40-78 +6
• 36. Daniella Barrett, Finland, *38-41-79 +7
• 36. Chloe Currie, Canada 1, *40-39-79 +7
• 36. Ana Laura Collado, Mexico, *41-38-79 +7
• 36. Raquel Olmos Ros, Spain, *38-41-79 +7
• 40. Han Yucen, China, *41-41-82 +10
• 40. Aline Krauter, Germany, *41-41-82 +10
• 40. Elisabeth Codet, France, *41-41-82 +10
• 40. Paula Neira Garcia, Spain, *43-39-82 +10
• 44. Sofia Angela Legaspi, Philippines, *39-45-84 +12
• 45. Linn Grant, Sweden, *41-44-85 +13
• 46. Ana Isabel González, Mexico, *44-45-89 +17

2016 WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS – TEAM

• 1. Team Philippines – Yuko Saso, Harmie Nicole Constantino, Sofia Angela Legaspi, *67-68-135 -9
• 2. Team China – Jin Man, Han Yucen, Du Mohan, *73-73-146 +2
• 2. Team Canada One – Chloe Currie, Mary Parsons, Monet Chun, *71-75-146 +2
• 2. Team USA – Mika Liu, Jennifer Chang, Elizabeth Wang, *74-72-146 +2
• 5. Team Germany – Esther Henseleit, Alexandra Föersterling, Aline Krauter, *72-76-148 +4
• 5. Team Denmark – Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Mathilde Fredensborg, Stephanie Astrup, *77-71-148 +4
• 5. Team Sweden – Linn Grant, Amanda Linnér, Maja Stark, *75-73-148 +4
• 8. Team Italy – Angelica Moresco, Alessia Nobilio, Caterina Don, *74-75-149 +5
• 9. Team Norway – Celine Borge, Madelene Stavnar, *75-75-150 +6
• 9. Team England – Sophie Lamb, Emily Price, Isobel Wardle, *75-75-150 +6
• 9. Team Korea – Hee-Jung Lim, Hae-Ran Ryu, Min-Gyeong Youn, *72-78-150 +6
• 12. Team France – Mathilde Claisse, Elisabeth Codet, Candice Mahe, *76-75-151 +7
• 13. Team Mexico – Isabella Fierro, Ana Laura Collado, Ana Isabel González, *78-74-152 +8
• 14. Team Canada Two – Céleste Dao, Hannah Lee, Isabella Portokalis, *74-80-154 +10
• 14. Team Spain – Paula Neira Garcia, Raquel Olmos Ros, Teresa Díez Moliner, *75-79-154 +10
• 16. Team Finland – Elina Saksa, Daniella Barrett, Anna Backman, *75-81-156 +12

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For more information:

Herb Fung
Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
Golf Canada
(t) 1-800-263-0009 x 258
(c) 647-709-3167
(e) hfung@golfcanada.ca

Darren Matte
Coordinator, Communications and Marketing
Golf Ontario
(t) 905-706-6538
(e) dmatte@gao.ca