Only on her second year in high school, 14-year-old Ashia for the first time played outside of her age-category abroad and won over players in the college level coming from the US, Canada, China, Singapore, India and Thailand in the skills challenge competition.
Here's the score card from the College Combine website:
We thank Ashia's sponsors who shouldered her plane ticket to the US, expensive tournament fees, green fees, practice round fees and playing fees.
The sponsors include Mighty Sports, Mighty Corporation's executives Caesar and Alexander Wongchuking; Eric Gutierrez of the San Roque Mining Corp., Jolly Ting of listed company Jolliville Holdings Corporation, Julio Sy of the Tao Corporation; and Mr. Jaime Dichavez and Mr. Johnny Sy.
Although we mostly stayed in hotels during tournaments, doing so for close to month with a family of five can cost an arm and a leg. Thus, we are so grateful to relatives and friends who took us in during the break period in-between tournaments that got us travelling from the farthest end of Southern and Northern California. Our relatives helped drove us around and even pampered us with food and gifts, more so during my birthday there last July 26.
They include my Auntie Estrella Torres, Uncle Ben, children Trisha and GJ who gave us a homey accommodation in their house in Ventura County and saw to it that I had my best birthday celebration in the US ever! There is my cousin Olga Natividad who celebrated her birthday with us; and the Alvarez family in San Francisco led by my cousins Rommel and Carol and children Jeff and Rizza who shared us their house and gave us all the comforts to make us feel so much welcome.
Special thanks goes to Ate Norma and Cris Crisostomo who took my mom Aida Nocum in and drove her to the best places and amusement parks in San Diego.
We likewise thank relatives who went overboard by bringing us to the best and most expensive buffet and Filipino restaurants. Millions of thanks to the Torres Family, Uncle Nonoy and Ate Mate Lopez, Carlos and Georgie Murillo and children, Auntie Esther; cousins Eden and Tuchie Barredo, Auntie Dolly Bordner, cousins Mulong, Reah and John Bordner; Gemma and Ian Nocum, Joseph Infante; Ann's classmate Lex Julain who also helped Ash last year and many, many more relatives who made us all feel so special.
We thank and dedicate to you all Ashia's successful US summer junior golf campaign. Ashia performed well because of all your love and support not only to her but also to our family of five and my mom Aida.
Here's Ashia's message to those who supported her:
"I would like to thank you for helping, supporting and sponsoring me in my road to become a professional golfer by participating in several tournaments in the U.S. as a representative of our country. Your support has opened many opportunities as well as help develop further my golf skills. Your contribution has enabled me to participate in highly distinguished tournaments, and those events broadened my discipline and character, on and off the field, which is invaluable to my future endeavors."
In gratitude to all the help Ashia -- who is celebrating her birthday this month along with elder sister Arizza and my wife Ann -- have decided to spend their special days raising funds for the poor kids and scholars being helped by our six libraries under our Kristiyano-Islam (Kris) Peace Library.
Please join us for a brunch featuring exotic food from Zamboanga like satti, kurma, pancit sotanghon etc. from 9 AM to 11 AM on October 17 at the Kris Library headquarters at 9A Dona Isidora Street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman, Quezon City 1127.
You may go to our Facebook page to make confirmation or to see how you can donate at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1488014744854900/
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