42-strong PH squad opens Callaway Junior World bid today

SAN DIEGO, California—The competition gets tougher each year and every kid in the Philippine contingent knows that the Callaway Junior World Golf Tournament is no picnic. Victory will go to the best prepared of the lot.

The arrival of well-trained talents from China has made the task even more formidable as 42 Filipino standouts troop to 11 different golf courses which will host the various age-group competi- tions of the Junior World starting Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Part of an international cast that has grown to 1,100 players from 54 countries and 42 states, the Filipinos, supported by Philippine Airlines and the Intenational Container Terminal Services, Inc., will be vying in all 12 divisions for boys and girls over 54 holes, except in the 1517 years which is for 72.

Two of the team’s strongest bets are Jed Dy in the 7-8 years and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas in the girls’ 9-10. Both are coming off impressive wins in the San Diego Junior Masters over the weekend.

Mia Legaspi, Princess Superal and the rest of the Filipinos, who were flown into California for free by the country’s flagcarrier as champions in their respective divisions, are also tipped to perform well against the tough international cast.

“We have better chances in the lower age-groups, but those in the 15-17 and 13-14 may just pull a surprise,” said Luigi Tabuena, head of delegation and president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines. “We’re hoping for the best.” The Philippine delegation: Class A (Torrey Pines South/North): Boys— Gio Gandionco, Santiago Lorenzo, LJ Go, Jama Reyes, Justin Quiban; Girls— Princess Superal, Andie Unson, Marvi Monsalve, Felicia Medalla

Class B (Morgan Run/Rancho Bernardo): Boys— Raymart Tolentino, Kristoffer Arevalo, Gabe Manotoc, Lanz Uy; Girls— Mia Legaspi, Rachita Vasan- dani, LK Go, Abby Arevalo; SamMartirez

Class C (Sycuan/Rancho Bernardo Inn): Boys— Christopher Popp, Aidric Chan, Wei Wei Gao; Luis Miguel Castro; Girls— Harmie Constantino, Mikha Fortuna, Sam Bruce

Class D( Welk Resort/Lomas Santa Fe): Boys— Carl Corpus, Jolo Magcalayo, Wei Yu Gao; Girls— Wei Fung Gao, Sofia Legaspi

Class E (Oaks North/Sycuan Resort): Boys— Jed Dy, Miguel Ilas, Leandro Bagtas, Maio Castaneda; Girls— Arnie Taguines, Eagle Ace Superal, Burberry Zhang

Class F (Colina Park): Boys— Jose Javier Lazatin, Rafael Olivarez-Ilas; Girls— Angela Arevalo