Jungolf body unearths young, precious talents

PHILIPPINE junior golf continues to unveil and harness young talents with a busy tournament program all year long.

The Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) intensified its efforts to organize as many tournaments as possible with the help of sponsors like International Container Terminal Services Inc., raising the level of play with each passing event.

The highlight of these tournaments is a nationwide competition that featured no less than 300 players who proudly represented their respective schools. JGFP officials hope more academic institutions lend a hand to their talent search by joining these events.

These tournaments have helped kids with their talent and confidence, as proven by victories of Jed Dy and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas in the annual Junior World championships in San Diego, California, last July.

Mia Legaspi spent the year collecting trophies here and abroad as well, teaming up with Felicia Medalla in winning the team event of the Singha Thailand Junior World. Princess Superal claimed the Malaysian Junior Open. Sunshine Burberry Zhang topped Kids Golf World Malaysia and Abby Arevalo delivered a late victory in the US Kids Holiday Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

“We’re looking at a possible talent boom in the next couple of years, it’s just a matter of keeping them competitive,” said JGFP president Luigi Tabuena.

Names that have cropped up are the likes of Miggy Yee, Rupert Zaragosa, LJ Go, Felicia Medalla, Raymart Tolentino, Missy Legaspi, Daniella Uy, Chanelle Avaricio, JP del Claro, Marvi Monsalve, Sam Martirez, Kristoffer Arevalo, Sophia Chabon, Aidric Chan, Jelbert Gamolo, Rainstar Roque, Harmie Constantino, Miguel Ilas, Javi Lazatin, Sunshine Zhang, Anya Cedo and Ken Shibata.

In recent years, the JGFP program has also opened the doors of opportunity to a US education for local aces.