SOUTH Korea’s Tom Kim guns for a rare sweep of the Philippine Amateur junior titles when he tees off as the odds-on favorite at the start today of the match play championship at tight Alabang Golf Club.
The 16-year-old, who won the stroke play event less than a month ago, will also be coming off a strong showing in the men’s match play event last week even as Harmie Constantino and Yuka Saso loom as the players to beat in the girls’ division.
Kim comes in as the most seasoned campaigner in the field though the local challenge is not short on talent.
Dan Cruz has been mentioned as one of the rising stars of junior golf and he gets the chance to strut his stuff now that Rupert Zaragosa has graduated from the ranks. Carlo Villaroman, who played for Canlubang in the last PAL Interclub, Ralph Lauron and Adrian Romero are the others worth watching.
Tournament format calls for a 36-hole stroke play to determine rankings before the KO stages starting Thursday. Only the top 32 boys and the top 16 girls will advance to the match play proper.
Constantino is seeking a second national title after ruling the stroke play event last season. She failed to advance past the Final Four of the women’s match play.