Just two years into playing golf, 12-year-old Yuki Canizares pulled off a stunning victory that left spectators and competitors in awe. The young golfer was crowned champion in the Ladies Division of the prestigious AMO Cup 2025 held at the scenic Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.
Yuki, the youngest daughter of Lester Canizares and Dr. Emiko Bautista Canizares, bested a field of seasoned players in a tightly contested tournament. Battling wet and rainy conditions over two days, Yuki showed poise beyond her years, finishing with a total of 54 molave points — 30 on the front nine and 24 on the back nine — edging out Hanna Melendrez by a single point. Melendrez secured first runner-up honors with 53 points, while Mercy Garcia followed closely with 52 for second runner-up.
“I still can’t believe it. I’m so happy,” said an emotional Yuki after her win. “I dedicate this championship to my dad, who has been my biggest supporter. He was the one who encouraged me to play golf.”
Yuki’s golf journey started in 2023 when she began tagging along to tournaments with her father, who had just taken up the sport. Fascinated and inspired, she soon expressed a desire to learn the game. That same year, she joined junior golf (Jungolf) training and began competing in tournaments — quickly falling in love with the sport.
Yuki’s rise in the golf scene has been remarkable. She was part of a four-man team that finished second runner-up in the 2024 AMO Cup, then went on to earn back-to-back runner-up finishes in early 2025 at the Alta Vista Monthly Tournament and the Alta Vista Ladies 2-Man Scramble. Her breakthrough came in February when she claimed her first championship title in the 2-Man Best Ball event. That momentum carried her to her biggest win yet — capturing the Ladies Division crown at the AMO Cup 2025.
This latest victory, just days before Father’s Day, is a heartfelt gift for her father Lester, who couldn’t be prouder of his daughter’s growth and determination.
More than 200 golfers from across the region competed in the two-day AMO Cup 2025, a much-anticipated annual event hosted at Alta Vista. Beyond the competition, the tournament had a noble cause — all proceeds go to the ALPA Foundation Inc., which provides educational scholarships for underprivileged but deserving students. Over the years, the foundation has helped numerous scholars graduate from college and build better futures.
Yuki’s unexpected but well-earned win is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the power of parental support. With her talent and heart, the young golfer is undoubtedly one to watch in the years to come.
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