06 June 2009

Pinoy Kid Tops Euro Junior Golf Tour

Photo courtesy of De La Salle Santiago Zobel
Carlos Philippe Winsett-Palanca, 7, wins 1st place in the 7-and-under category, at the U.S. Kids Golf European Championship in Scotland, the country where the game of golf was invented. The Grade 1 student from De La Salle-Zobel won by a single stroke over Luke Rose of South Africa and defending champion Jake Craddock of Britain to become the first Filipino to win the event, which drew 33 champions from 12 countries.

More than 400 boys and girls ages 6 to 14 who qualified for the tournament in their respective countries came to Scotland to vie for the title in their respective categories. The top finishers in each category will be competing in the Van Horn Cup - a showpiece event, modelled on the Ryder Cup, where the best European players are pitted against the top non-Europe golfers.

The top five finishers in each age and gender group also automatically receive an invitation to the US Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst Golf Club, North Carolina this August 2009. Pinehurst is the site of nine U.S. Open Golf Championships and will host its 10th U.S. Open in 2014.

Carlos is the son of Wednesday Palanca and the grandson of dramatic actress Liza Lorena (Elizabeth Winsett in real life) and Carlos "HoneyBoy" Palanca who is now married to Dang Cecilio. Carlos is a student of De La Salle-Zobel playing out of Alabang and Sta. Elena golf clubs.

Carlos Winsett-Palanca is the first Filipino to win at the U.S. Kids Golf Championship in the 7 and under category. Amelia Claire "Mia" Legaspi won a US Kids Championship last year in Pinehurst NC.

Before winning one of the most prestigious titles for kids, Palance who plays out of the Alabang and Sta Elena golf clubs also topped last year’s qualifier for the Callaway Junior World held at the Manila Southwoods and Sherwood Hills.