The Country Club caters to big field as Junior PGT holds inaugural tourney

ATOTAL of 91 junior golfers—a mix of leading players in the ranks and siblings and offsprings of former and current touring pros—make up the cast in the Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) launch on Sunday at The Country Club (TCC) in Laguna.

Reese Ng, Mikha Constantino, Gabie Rosca and Anya Cedo banner the field in the girls’ 15 to 17 age group while Zachary Villaroman, Zachary Castro, John Bernis and Santino Pineda headline the boys’ cast in the premier division of the four age category tournament put up by International Container Terminal Services Inc. to boost junior golf under a different program setup.

The drive, chip and putt competition—managed and conducted by professional tour directors, rulesmen and marshals—is also being held to provide youngsters a venue where they could harness their talent and skills with the top products earning the chance to compete abroad and gain exposure in international competitions.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. said 16 other events will be held in Luzon in the coming months with plans to bring the new junior golf circuit to Visayas and Mindanao where talents abound.

The JGPT offers no membership fees and is not in any way associated with other existing junior golf organizations.

Hostilities in the 13-14 age bracket is expected to be fierce with Shinichi Suzuki, Tristan Padilla, Gabriel Handog, Patrick Tambalque, Aaron Chua and Kristoffer Nadales leading the chase in the boys side and the likes of Celine Abalos, Frances Duque and Marie Isabelle Tang bracing for a furious battle in the girls’ category.

Keira Que, Precious Zaragosa, Eona Padilla and Samarah Torres make up the core of the girls’ 11-12 division that includes Kendra Galao, Tiffany Bernardino, Levonne Talion and Giulian Ballado, while Rafael Hernandez, Matthias Espina, John Gomez, Nathan de Leon and Andrew Chua head the cast in the boys’ category.

Focus will also be in the youngest 9-10 division with Race Phoenix Manhit, Gerard Handog, Ryuji Suzuki, Cade Santos and Jacob Casuga bannering the boys’ class and Kelsey Bernardino, Brianna Macasaet, Margauz Namoco, Georgina Handog and Amanda Ynson tipped to dispute top honors in the girls’ division of the circuit.

For details, contact tournament administrator Jhiue Castillo at +639283165678), or Event Captain, Inc.’s Joy Pangadlo at +639179222445 (Whatsapp), or e-mail pilipinasgolftournamentsinc@gmail.com.