By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Several top performers from last week’s Bacolod tournament will aim for a repeat in the third and final leg of the ICTSI-Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Visayas series at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club beginning on Monday, July 1.
The tournament is vital for all golfers to earn the crucial ranking points and clinch their spots in the Philippine Match Play Championship in October.
Tiffany Bernardino, who had a narrow one-stroke win in the girls’ 13-15 age division last week, will compete with Rane Chiu, Francine Jalandoni and Alexie Gabi in the same division.
Nyito Tiongko, the champion in the boys’ 13-15 age division last week, will compete in the same division along with Gabriel Handog, Begie Salahog, Dannuo Zhu, Cybon Casil, Manu Tiongko, Ejay Valenzuela, Jungie Delicana, and Xian Travina.
In the girls’ 16-18 category, Dominique Gotiong seeks consecutive wins after a resounding JPGT debut in Bacolod.
Breanna Rojas will also try to contest Gotiong in the division.
Bacolod native John Rey Oro aims for a second win in the boys’ 16-18 competition against opponents, such as Del Monte’s Simon Wahing, Coby Langamin and Keith Pagalan.
With Bacolod leg winner Patrick Tambalque competing in Singapore, a wide-open battle looms with Blake Bautista, Eddie Gonzales Jr., John Paul Oro, Shawn Ong, Ezekiel Madrileño, Bryce Lacida, Marvin Serdenia, John Blancada, Azie Acuña, Alfonso Go, Gabriel Lacson, Lucas Kilayko, Christian Millan, and Francis Gerochi contesting Iloilo leg winner Oro.
Additional notable competitors include Maurysse Abalos, who will return to action in the girls’ 8-9 category, and Kvan Alburo, who aims for a sweep of the Visayas series after victories in Iloilo and Bacolod.
In the boys’ 10-12 division, Race Manhit looks to repeat his win last week, contending with players like Isaac Locsin, Zach Casil, Rafael Alvarez, and Romel Pactolerin, while Kelsey Bernardino gears up for a showdown with Chelsea Ogborne, Mikaella Salahog and Crystalie Bornales in the girls’ division.
The five-month nationwide series awards points for the JPGT Match Play Championships at The Country Club in Laguna.
Players earn points based on performance, with no limit on event entries.
Only the best results count towards the 72 national finals spots — the best four results for Luzon, and the best two for Visayas and Mindanao.
Players in multiple series will have their best three results considered.
The Top 4 players from Luzon and the Top 2 from Visayas and Mindanao will advance to the head-to-head finals.
The top player in the series will earn a Match Play finals spot./ASC, WDJ