MELBOURNE — Davao’s golfing prodigy Daniel Nagayo played a near flawless round on his way to topping the Golf Victoria Primary School Qualifier in Melbourne on Monday.
Representing Park Ridge Primary School, the 11-year old Melbourne golf scholar, son of former Davao City councilor Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo and golfing businessman Danny Nagayo, carded an even par 36 at the tough Churchill Waverley Golf Club to win by four strokes over Melbourne Grammar School’s Charlie Anderson.
Anderson scored four over par 40.
Starting on hole no. 14 in the shotgun start tee off with flightmates Harry Anderson and Charlie Anderson, Nagayo made a perfect drive landing 120 meters to the green. His second shot went short but got lined up for an eagle putt from the first cut of the front green. His putt went 8 feet short, muffed the birdie try, and settled for par.
On the 15th, he put an extra kick in his drive and landed on the left front green bunker. He played out and putted for birdie but missed and ended with another par .
After three-putting for a double bogey on the par 3 16th, Nagayo recovered in the next hole launching a perfect drive that left him with only 40 yards to the pin. He sank a 2 footer birdie to go back to even par on his scorecard.
He went one under par on the 18th with a birdie after a missed eagle putt. He had anther par on the 10th with a couple of putts.
Getting a bit aggressive, he misfired the 11th tee shot on the dog leg right using his 3-wood but got caught by a tree branch and landed on the right side rough stymied to the green. Withut a choice but to play out of the rough, he then pitched to the green from 20 yards, made two putts for a bogey.
He bounced back with a birdie on the par 4 12th before capping off his round with another par on the par 3 13th.
Nagayo’s title win followed up a strong fifth place finish in the tough Stuart Appleby Rookie Series early this month.
