Unson wins Optimist golf crown in two-hole playoff

Philippine bet Andrea Unson won the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship crown in dramatic fashion when she defeated Ecuador's Daniela Darquea in a thrilling two-hole playoff at the PGA National Golf and Resort’s Haig course in Palm Beach Garden, Florida. Unson, who seized the lead in the second round, managed a 76 and Darquea made an even 72 as both fought toe-to-toe in the final round and finished with identical four-over-par 220s that setup the extension. In the first extra hole, the Filipina almost took home outright girls' 14-15 division crown with a birdie but it was later matched by the equally determined Darquea that brought the competition on Hole No. 2. Darquea appeared headed to an upset at the second hole where she reached the green in two. However, the pressure was too much to bear for the junior Ecuador star as she three-putted for a bogey. To ensure victory, the 15-year-old Unson avoided any risk by coming through with a leisure par on the same hole to hoist her second title in a month. Her first successful campaign happened at the San Diego Junior Masters in San Diego. "It's so surreal. Going through a playoff is always a difficult task in golf. I am so happy to beat Darquea," said a relived Unson, who lost her overnight lead with a disappointing 76. But that was enough to carry her to the win. Another RP bet, Clare Amelia Legaspi, triumphed in the girls' 10-11 division with a come-from-behind win. Legaspi entered the day four strokes behind but her low round, one-under 71 gave her a 223 to beat the 78-226 of Missouri's Claire Hodges. Daniella Uy, Unson's teammate, also had a podium run with a third place finish (72-219) behind winner Thailand's Pailin Ruttanasupagid (70-215) and runner-up Ana Paula Valdez (76-218) of Mexico. - JVP, Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV