SISTERS Francesca Nicole and Stephanie Joy Gaisano Gan clinched spots in the IMG Academy Junior World Championship with impressive performances in the Philippine qualifiers in Cavite.
The 11-year-old Nicole ruled the 11-12 girls division with a three-day total of 261 following rounds of 85-86-90, finishing two strokes clear of Tashanah Niña Balangauan at Eagle Ridge.
Lois Laine Go (283) and Isabella Alanis Tabanas (284) joined the two in their bracket as the top four finishers from each age group earned slots in the Junior World Championship set July 10 to 14 in San Diego, California.
Return to world meet
It was the fourth time Francesca Gan clinched a berth in the junngolf world tournament, the last was during her title run in the 9-10 girls qualifiers in 2019 at Intramuros Golf and Country Club in Manila.
Four-year-old Stephanie Gan is the youngest to qualify this year for the Philippines when she finished second in the 6-under division. She shot 70-74 in the final two days of the qualifiers following an opening 91 at Riviera. She finished with a total of 235 behind champion Kamilla Edriana del Mundo at 213 after rounds of 66-71-76 in the qualifiers organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP).
“I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished. At a young age Nicole and Stephanie will be representing our country on the world stage,” said father Oliver Gan, himself a former Philippine jungolf champion and now a consultant at the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“For me too, I’m just happy to see that our young golfers are finally back playing in a tournament because other countries have been doing events in the previous months,” added Gan.
The Gan sisters, who trains under twice LPGA Tour winner Jennifer Rosales, will compete in Thailand before going to the world meet.
Others who qualified for the world meet were Sooreen Lee, Rafael Lucas de Guzman and Kenzo Gavin Tan in the boys’ 6-under; Ryuji Suzuki, Mico Deltheo Woo and Raiden Jmari Valle in boys’ 7-8 class; Ralph Rian Batican, Race Phoenix Manhit, Jared Saban and Jose Jacobo Gomez in the boys’ 9-10 category; Geoffrey Drew Tan, Marc Kristoffer Nadales, Scott Nicholas Ng and Emilio Hernandez in the boys’ 11-12; Shinichi Suzuki, Patrick Gene Tambalque, Luis Ballesteros and Zach Villaroman in the 13-14 division; and Jet Hernandez, Miguel Armando Ilas IV, Sean Dominique Granada and Bobe Salahog in the 15-18 class.
In the girls category, advancing were Maria Brianna Macasaet, Venus delos Santos and Kelly Robyn Ng in the 7-8 class; Johanna Blair Uyking, Brittany Pauline Tamayo, Margaux Namoco and Jacqiline Ellouise Audrey Garcia in the 9-10 division; Reese Allyson Ng, Lia Gabrielle Rosca, Mikhaella Constantino and Celine Abalos in the 13-14 category; Ma. Rafaela Singson, Arnie Pauline Taguines, Sunshine Burberry Zhang and Eagle Ace Superal in the 15-18 division.
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