Junior golfer Anna Kei Fernandez fired a career-best four-over-par 76 at Tagaytay Midlands to book a ticket to the World Amateur Golf Championship slated for 11 to 20 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The 16-year-old was one of two lady winners in the WAGC national finals.
Playing against men old enough to be her father, Fernandez made three birdies against seven bogeys to top Division 2.
Playing with a 7-handicap, Fernandez wound up with a net 69, edging Yancy Silipan by one shot. Allen Embuscado took third with a 71.
Fernandez, a tennis player before shifting to golf came into the tournament after losing in the first round of the Philippine Columbian Association Open tennis championships.
“She is now focusing on golf,” said Pipo, Fernandez’s father.
Aside from golf and tennis, Fernandez is into horseback riding.
“We are all excited but she is on a horse now riding to relax her mind,” Pipo said, referring to Anna’s first golf tournament overseas.
Fernandez has been playing without a coach for some time now.
“We decided to let her just figure it out on her own,” Pipo said.
Also qualifying to represent the Philippines were Den de Castro, Abraham Rojas Venice Ngo and Eric Yalung.
Den De Castro, a 4-handicapper, shot a net 70 to win Division 1, edging low gross champion Jacob Rolida and Vincent Osmena by one shot.
Division 3 went to Abraham Rojas who shot a 67, three shots ahead of Jose Paolo Legaspi and Elmer Chua.
In Division 4, Venice Ngo shot a 61, beating Marienelle Sales by four. John Michael San Juan settled for third with a 68.
Ngo went on to win the overall net crown.
Yalung bagged the Division 5 title after returning with a 65, a stroke clear of Marven Panares. Jun Moya shot 67 for third place.