It’s the southern standouts’ turn to showcase their skills and test their mettle as the ICTSI Mactan Junior PGT Championship unfolds Monday, May 5, at the Mactan Island Golf Course in Cebu.
The tournament kicks off the seven-leg Visayas-Mindanao (Vis-Min) series, with junior golfers vying for individual leg titles and valuable ranking points for a coveted slot in the North vs. South Elite Junior Finals.
Top performers from the south will challenge Luzon’s best, whose own seven-leg series is already well underway.
In Luzon, Mavis Espedido has dominated the girls 7-10 division, sweeping the Eagle Ridge, Sherwood Hills and Splendido Taal legs.
Other early frontrunners include Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc (boys 7-10), Ryuji Suzuki and Vito Sarines (boys 11-14), Lisa Sarines and Mona Sarines (girls 11-14), Zach Villaroman and Shinichi Suzuki (boys 15-18), Rafa Anciano and Levonne Talion (girls 15-18), and Venus delos Santos and Winter Serapio (girls 7-10).
Now, the spotlight shifts south.
Apple Gotiong, who made a strong debut in last year’s JPGT, leads the girls 15-18 division, which also includes Davao’s Precious Zaragosa, Lois Laine Go, Niña Balangauan and Snow Yu.
The boys 15-18 division features a highly competitive field, with Jose Tiongko III, Yosef Tiongko, Ritchie Go, Alexis Nailga, Inno Flores and Zeus Suzara in the lineup.
Bukidnon’s Ralph Batican, one of six winners from the south in last year’s JPGT Match Play Finals, headlines the boys 11-14 division, joined by Jared Saban (South Cotabato), Mico Woo (Bukidnon), Isaac Locsin (Bacolod), Gabriel Mananquil (GenSan), and locals David Gothong, Braxton Gesta and Alexander Gothong.
In the girls 11-14 category, Rafella Batican is the top seed, with strong challenges expected from Zuri Bagaloyos, Margux Espina, Monique Tan and Brittany Tamayo, last year’s girls 10-12 Match Play champion.
Eliana Mendoza, another Match Play winner from Cebu, is favored to dominate the girls 7-10 bracket against contenders Skye Yocte and Marie Yu.
Meanwhile, James Rolida of Cagayan de Oro leads the boys 7-10 contenders, with Charles Tan, Ethan Ong, Franco Lago, Tobias Tiongko and Anthony Avila aiming to challenge.
Registration remains open.
To list up, contact tournament administrator Jhi Castillo-Estrada at +63 928 316 5678 or assistant tournament administrator Shiela Salvania at +63 968 311 4101, or email [email protected].
After the Mactan leg, the series continues at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club from May 14 to 16, then moves to Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Murcia from May 19 to 21.
The Mindanao swing begins June 25 to 27 at Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.
