USwing Jr. World: Edoc leads Phl charge

The Philippines showed strength in the boys’ 7-8 division at the start of the USwing Mojing Junior World Championships in San Diego, California on Tuesday.

Zoji Tyro Edoc fired a two-under-par 71 to take solo second, two shots behind Australian Hugo Smith.

Two other Filipinos — Mikell Zachary Guico and Ethan Lago — each shot a 75 to share fifth place.

Three other Filipinos crashed the Top 10 standings.

Roman Ungco and Apollo Batican shot a two-under-par 69 to join a big group in joint eighth in the boys’ 13-14.

Maria Brianna Macasaet, on the other hand, moved to solo eighth following a 2-under 70 in the girls’ 9-10 bracket.

California-based Fil-American Sophia Salonga shot a 2-under 71 to share 13th in the girls’ 13-14.

The rest of the Filipinos floundered on opening day.

Geoffrey Tan and Reese Ng were the country’s best performers in the premier 15-18 divisions, shooting a 76 and 73, respectively.

The other top performers were Vito Sarines and Race Manhit, boys’11-12; Athena Batican, girls’ 11-12; Halo Pangilinan, boys’ 9-10, and lone Filipino entry Tyly Quinna Bernardino, girls’ 7-8.

How the Filipinos fared:

15-18 (boys) — Geoffrey Tan 76, T64; Tristan Padilla 77, T82; David Serdenia 80, T141; Patrick Tambalque 80, T141; Emilio Hernandez 80, T141

15-18 (girls) — Reese Ng 73, T33; Alessandra Luciano 75, T66; Maelea Rafaella Anciano 82, T144; Lois Lane Go 90, 165th

13-14 (boys) — Roman Ungco 69, T8; Apollo Batican 69, T8; Zianbeau Thurs Edoc 74, T69; David Teves 77, T110; John Majgen Luis Gomez 77, T110

13-14 (girls) — Sophia Salonga 71, T13; Johanna Blair Uyking 73, T24; Mona Sarines 73, T24; Lisa Sarines 73, T24; Precious Zaragosa 79, T64; Tiffany Bernardino 90, T103

11-12 (boys) — Vito Sarines 75, T39; Race Manhit 75, T39; Chan Ahn 81, T92; Mannuwel Maligaya 90, T126

11-12 (girls) — Athena Batican 77, T43; Eliana Dumalaog 79, T53; Cailey Gonzales 79, T53; Tea Kelsey Bernardino 87, T79

9-10 (boys) — Halo Pangilinan 83, T76; Isonn Marco Luis Angheng 86, T84; Jacob Lucas Sy 93, 92nd; Michael Ray Hortel II 94, T93; Matteo Kristoff dela Cruz 96, 96th

9-10 (girls) — Brianna Macasaet 70, 8th; Mavis Espedido 76, T29; Maurysse Abalos 79, T47; Andrea Rei Dee 93, T69;

7-8 (boys) — Zoji Tyro Edoc 71, 2nd; Mikell Zachary Guico 75, T5; Ethan Lago 75, T5; Asher Abad 82, T23

7-8 (girls) — Tyly Quinna Bernardino 91, 26th