More than a hundred participants have signed up for the 2023 JGFP Davao Championship slated for 5-8 January at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.
Divided into 14 boys’ and girls’ divisions, the organizing Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines has decided to reserve the first two days for players 12 years old and below. Players aged 13 to 18 will play in the last two days.
Aside from 40 players in Davao alone, the tournament also drew entries from Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, South Cotabato, Zamboanga, and Metro Manila.
As part of its grassroots program, the JGFP waived the entry fees of 24 dependents of caddies, club employees, and teaching pros.
The four-day event is sponsored by Gaisano Malls, Britanika Golf Club, Apo Golf and Country Club, and Islandwide Corp.
JGFP president Oliver Gan said he is pleased with the huge turnout, the biggest so far since his assumption to office.
“This is historic. This is a real grassroots program,” gushed JGFP chairman Tommy Manotoc who is also overseeing the ongoing golf clinics at the Edwin Andrews Air Base golf course in Zamboanga City.
Philippine Masters champion Jerson Balasabas is currently holding weekend clinics for junior golfers in Zamboanga.
Manotoc earlier received a donation of golf sets from American Larry Puckett, a long-time Baguio resident who used to be a caddie at Camp John Hay Golf Club.
Puckett said he hopes that his donation will go a long way in improving their games.
Puckett is a graduate of the San Diego Golf Academy.
The list of participants:
Girls’6-and-below
— Stephanie Gan, Soleil Lanne Molde, Samantha Ibarra
Girls’ 7-8 — Eliana Mendoza, Rafella Adrienne Batican, Jaimie Salazar, Athena Batican, Kylie Cebrian, Atasha Elize Naranjo, Merryl Angel Salvador
Girls’ 9-10 — Adrianna Rancines, Arianna Coleen Ang, Althea Setter Villaber, Brittany Pauline Tamayo, Jay Molde Solana, Gia Bullecer, Kim Baroquillo
Girls’ 11-12 — Izabella Rancines, Johanna Uyking, Nicole Gan, Lisa Sarines, Mona Sarines, Aki Wacan, Isabella Tabanas, Sophia Hillary Bulado, Mary Rose Wacan
Girls’ 13-14 — Zero Plete, Mikela Venice Guillermo, Julienne Mabale
Girls’ 15-16 — Bethena Dion Bulado, Velinda Castil, Cristi Therese Minoza, Aisha Fanlo
Girls’ 17-18 — Princess Mae Babia, Anci Galicia, Liana Pondias
Boys’ 6-and-below — Joaquin Andres Perez, Ethan Tiancolago, Lucas de Guzman, Sooreen Lee, Aison Bagares
Boys’ 7-8 — James Benedict Rolida, Rory Isiah Bisera, Shiloh Plete, Stephen Travis Ausin, Joseph Adrian Tangtatco, Alonzo Rutuerto
Boys’ 9-10 — Mico Deltheo Woo, Jared Saban, Laurence Saban, Steve William Ibarra, Apollo Batican, Ken Eduard Guillermo, Vito Sarines, Gio Pasquil, Prince Earljohn Bisera
Boys’ 11-12 — Jacob Gomez, Blademher Estologa, David James Teves, Earl Aladin, Santi Rabat, Jack Daniel Nagayo, Heaven Ababa, John Miggy Orfila, George Wacan, Chiz John Wacan, John Carl Fiel, Ralph Rian Batican
Boys’ 13-14 — Felix Saludar, Akio Lee, Clement Ordeneza, Alexis Gabriel Nailga, AJ Wacan, Kirt Wacan, Javier Santos, Cody John Langamin, Gabriel Rosal, Jon Jakim Ortega, Vince Naranjo
Boys’ 15-16 — Adrrie Michael Perez, Gian Matt Bullecer, Tobie Rabat, Adrian Bisera, Gabriel Tan, Kenly Troy Wacan, Nino Villasencio, Aldrein Gialon, Edgar Ibuyan III, Josephous Gandingan
Boys’ 17-18 — Zachary Castro, Glenn Unabia, Davel Boy Pook, Rex Zaragosa, Ken Zonio, Rolly Wacan