Lee, Suzuki cruise to JPGT victories

LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines — Jiwon Lee and Shinichi Suzuki turned the final round of the 15-18 division of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Luzon Series 2 into their own victory party as they posted similar 73s at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Lee, who all but secured her second consecutive JPGT crown by amassing a 17-stroke lead over Reese Ng in the third round, finished with a 37-36 card. Her three-under 285 bested Ng by 20 shots.

Ng closed with a 76 for a 305 aggregate while Lia Duque placed third with a 310, matching Lee’s 73 at the Pradera Verde golf complex.

Suzuki, meanwhile, secured a six-shot victory over Tristan Padilla in the premier division on a 288 total. The Manila Southwoods standout extended his overnight five-stroke lead to nine with a run of eight pars against Padilla’s four consecutive bogeys in the first nine.