A 38-STRONG Philippine contingent plunges into action Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in the IMG Academy Junior World golf championships in San Diego, California.
Regarded as one of the traditional Asian powers in what is considered as the Olympics of junior golf, the Filipinos are expected to figure well in the race for the 12 age-group titles.
Leading the campaign in the centerpiece 15-17 division is the multi-titled Rupert Zaragosa and Lois Kaye Go who have both been impressive in recent warmup events.
Go won her first American Junior Golf Association plum in Chico, California, while Zaragosa placed second in the Future Champions Golf International in San Diego.
“It’s a tough competition and we need to be very consistent to finish well here,” said Zaragosa, one of the division champions of the local qualifier rewarded with free tickets to Los Angeles by national carrier Philippine Airlines.
Go is part of a five-player Philippine lineup in the girls division, hoping to emulate Daniella Uy’s scintillating win in the division last year. It came 18 years after the now professional Jennifer Rosales won the same crown.
“We’re hoping to do well in most of the age-group categories,” said Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines who serves as head of the delegation supported by the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Sports, Friends of Jungolf and Cleanpak.
The other potential threats are Pauline del Rosario in the girls 15 to 17; Jed Dy, who lost his bid for a second Junior World title in heartbreaking fashion last year, in the boys 11 to 12 division; Harmie Constantino, a veteran of the Singapore Southeast Asian Games, in the girls 13 to 14 and Carl Corpus in the boys 13 to 14.
The Philippine entries:
15-17 Boys Division (Torrey Pines South)—Rupert Zaragosa, Kristoffer Arevalo, Ryan Monsalve, Wei Wei Gao, Lanz Uy; 15-17 Girls Division (Torrey Pines North)—Sam Martirez, Annika Cedo, Abby Arevalo, Lois Kaye Go, Pauline del Rosario; 13-14 Boys Division (Morgan Run Resort)—Carl Corpus, Aidric Chan, Wei Yu Gao; 13-14 Girls Division (Country Club of Rancho Bernardo)—Sofia Chabon, Kayla Nocum, Harmie Constantino, Mikhaela Fortuna, Bernice Ilas; 11-12 Boys Division (Sycuan Resort, Oak Glen)—Jolo Magcalayo, Riggs Illescas, Pierre Ticzon, Josh Jorge, Jed Dy; 11-12 Girls Division (Bernardo Heights CC)—Sophia Blanco, Annyka Cayabyab, Laia Barro; 9-10 Boys Division (Welk Resort, Fountains)—Sean Granada, Miguel Roque, Zeus Sara; 9-10 Girls Division (Lomas Santa Fe Executive)—Burberry Zhang; 7-8 Boys Division (Oaks North Golf Course)—Vince Tiamsic, Santino Pineda, Rafa Ilas; 7-8 Girls Division (Sycuan Resort, Pine Glen)—Anya Cedo, Alexi Blanco; 6-Under Boys Division (Colina Park)—Rocco Pineda, Julienne Lhuillier; 6-Under Girls Division (Colina Park)—Venice Tiamsic