Nagayo debuts
Takes a shot at U.S. Kids Golf World Championship
ELEVEN-year-old Allesandra Christine Nagayo of Davao City will make her debut in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina on July 30 to August 1 (U.S. time).
This on the heels of finishing fourth place in girls 11 event of the just-concluded 2015 Veritas World Junior Championships at the Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena, California.
Ella, as she is fondly called, is the daughter of Danny, a registered nurse, and Davao City Councilor Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo.
The Apo Golf and Country Club mainstay, according to mom Rachel, is excited about the tournament.
“Sinabi nya marami daw magagaling so she will just try her best daw,” the lady councilor told Sun. Star Davao in text messages yesterday.
Rachel said Ella has been practicing since arriving in Pinehurst.
The younger Nagayo will tee off in the first round with Kiana Briggs of Novato, California and Ashley Liu of Plano, Texas on July 30 at the Southern Pines Golf Club.
Ella earned the right to represent the country to the event after topping the 11-year-old division of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships international qualifiers held last June at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite last May.
Mom Rachel also said, “We are very proud of her. She really tried her best during the Veritas tournament. Her scores improved day by day.”
“We hope that she will continue to do good and make a name for herself in the field of golf. As always, we will pray that she will have a great game in Pinehurst. But most importantly, we also hope that she won’t forget to have fun,” Rachel added.
Ella trained at the Apo Golf and Country Club six days a week under the watchful eyes of coaches Sonny Villaver and Toch Altea.
She learned the basics of the sport when she was seven then she competed in local junior tournaments shortly. She also saw action in inter-school golfests in Australia.