DAVAO CITY — Provincial bets made their presence felt at the 2023 JGFP Davao Championships at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City Thursday.
Alonzo Retuerto, the eight-year-old grandson of coach Roger Retuerto, took a commanding 21-point lead in the boys’ 7-8 age-group division after scoring an 86.
“He still has a lot to work on his putting,” said the elder Retuerto who served as Alonzo’s caddie.
A far second was Jeremiah Ordanza who shot a 107.
Rafella Batican and Brittany Tamayo, both from Davao, fired the day’s best scores — 73 — as they stormed to the top of the leaderboard in their respective divisions.
Batican led Merry Angel Salvador by 40 shots in the girls’ 7-8 bracket while Tamayo opened a seven-shot lead over Kim Barroquillo in the girls’ 9-10.
Ralph Batican led the boys’ 9-10 after posting a 74, four shots ahead of Jared Saban.
Metro Manila struck through sisters Nicole and Stephanie Gan and Lucas de Guzman.
In a tightly-fought girls’ 11-12 division, Nicole Gan carded a 76 to take a slim two-shot lead over sisters Mona and Lisa Sarines. Also in contention was Isabella Tabanas who turned in an 80.
In the girls’ 6-and-under, Stephanie Gan led Soleil Molde by eight shots after both waged a tight battle in the first nine holes.
Molde, playing her first official 18-hole round, faded coming home.
Samantha Ibarra, who completed the flight, played her first 18-hole round and grew tired as the round wore on. She fell asleep on the cart before the 15th hole but managed to finish her round.
De Guzman, one of a handful of Junior World veterans in the field, birdied the 18th hole to build a 13-stroke lead over Ethan Lago in the boys’ side.
Coach Toch Altea, Yuka Saso’s swing coach, was on De Guzman’s bag.
The tournament, which serves as JGFP’s grassroots program, is backed by Gaisano Malls, John Gaisano, Dimdi Furniture and Appliance Centre, Soleil Cafe, and Islandwide Distribution Corporation.
