Santino talks about his journey
Santino Diokno is devoting his waking hours to golf to prepare for his third appearance in the IMG Junior World Championship next month and doesn’t mind playing alone at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo, Rizal.
In fact, the 16-year-old incoming Grade 12 student of Reedley International School has found a way to make his lonely golf round interesting.
Santino plays “worst ball” when he’s alone in order to apply pressure and minimize his mistakes on the golf course.
“It’s basically scramble but you choose the worst ball out of the two shots until you finish so if you have a three-foot putt and make the first one and miss the second, you still have to play the second to hole out,” he said.
Santino said he first learned “worst ball” three months ago through a YouTube video by two-time major champion Zach Johnson.
“I usually play worst ball for only nine holes when there is no one behind me in the golf course,” he said. “My goal is to break 45 in nine holes.”
Santino will be making his debut in the premier 15-18 age division and is confident he can hold his own against the world’s top junior players.
The last three weeks have been hectic for Santino who divides his time between Valley and City Golf in Ortigas to work with coach Kevin Lachica.
“I’ve been working on my ball control as it shall be essential in tournament play,” he said. “I’ve also been playing practice matches with friends.”
I’m currently in contact with a few colleges in the States hoping that I get a spot in their golf team. Getting into a college golf team and competing on national television have always been a dream of mine.
The lack of tournament play could hurt Santino’s bid. His last event was the Faldo Series Philippine Qualifier early last year at Valley Golf where he shot 71-75-69 to finish fifth.
Despite the handicap, Santino is excited to play Torrey Pines for the first time. “My goal is to beat the course. I have no particular number in mind, but I plan to break par in some of the rounds,” he vowed. “Torrey Pines is a hard course, so doubles and bogeys will come here and there without a doubt. That’s why the number one goal is to beat the course.” He said he has studied and watched a lot of videos on how to play Torrey Pines and what it looks like.
Torrey Pines will also host the US Open championship this month.
Santino comes from a well-known political clan. However, his parents — Jonathan and Polly — are bankers. He was introduced to golf at the age of eight.
The first time he hit the ball, he knew golf was for him.
“I love the feeling of competing against the best players. It pushes me to continue this journey. I started at an age when my competitors were already at a higher level which made me strive to better each day so I may be able to beat them one day,” he said.
Torrey Pines is a hard course, so doubles and bogeys will come here and there without a doubt.
There were modest successes along the way. He became back-to-back junior club champion at Valley and won the overall championship in the Junior Golf Federation of the Philippines Interschools tournament in 2018.
He also won the National Doubles Division II titles twice. His best 18-hole tournament is four-under par 68, although he shot 67 in a qualifying tournament at Valley. His current handicap is close to scratch.
Like almost everyone else, Santino dreams of playing in the PGA Tour and he hopes to achieve it by securing a college scholarship in the United States.
“I’m currently in contact with a few colleges in the States hoping that I get a spot in their golf team. Getting into a college golf team and competing on national television have always been a dream of mine,” he admitted.
Aside from the PGA Tour, Santino is also looking at the European Tour or even the Korn Ferry Tour.
But first things first.
Santino is flying to the United States next week to continue his preparations for the Junior World. He is set to compete in four other events.
“I will be staying there for nearly two months,” he said.
Outside golf, Santino said he loves playing table tennis and billiards with his father Jonathan.
“I also like going to the beach and take photos of whatever I find pleasing to my eyes,” he said.
Boys will always be boys.