A TOTAL of 150 golfers tee off in the Pueblo de Oro Junior Open on Saturday at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country in Cagayan de Oro.
The second part of the Mindanao leg of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines after the Davao City tournament at Apo Golf, hopes to continue the same vision of the JGFP, and that is to discover new talents from the grassroots level, particularly in the Mindanao region.
See Junior Philippine Golf Tour tees off at The Country Club
On tap are competitions for boys and girls in the 6-under, 7-8 years-old, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18. A special division will also be played for the 19-21 age group.
Participants in the 12 and above bracket will earn ranking points from the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Under WAGR, they already started Friday for the required three-day meet.
Also seeing action are champions from the Davao leg, including Manila-based golfers Nicole and Stephanie Gan, and Lucas de Guzman, Mindanao’s Jared Saban, Athena Batican, Alonzo Retuerto, Brittany Pauline Tamayo, Zerto Plete, Cody John Langamin, Althea Paige Gaccion, Aldrein Gialon and John Canlas.
The region has produced a number of successful world caliber golfers over the years, which include Frankie Minoza, Tony Lascuna, Cassius Casas, Elmer Salvador, Elmer Saban, Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, and rising star Edison Tabalin.
Winners of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines tournament at Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.
JGFP president Oliver Gan said the number of participants only proved that the interest in junior golf is very high as young participants are excited to showcase their talent in the two-day meet.
“We are overwhelmed with the turnout,” said Gan, a former golf consultant of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).
“This goes to show that young golfers are excited to play – especially golfers from the region. That means Mindanao is really a hotbed for talented young golfers,” added Gan.
The event is supported by John Gaisano, Gaisano Malls, Islandwide Distribution Corp. and Pueblo Golf.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph