Montecillo golf: PH bets open title bids strongly

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—Team PH I, composed of Gio Gandionco and teenager Raymart Tolentino, assembled a one-over-par 145 to grab an early one-stroke lead in the first round of the Montecillo Junior Golf Championship at the Orchard Golf and Country Club.

Tailing the pair were PH II’s Clyde Mondilla and Kristoffer Arevalo, and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut and Chanachok Dejpiratanamonkol.

Princess Superal powered the country’s charge in the girls’ side, firing a four-under 68 as she joined hands with Bianca Pagdanganan (79) as PH II pooled a 147 and grabbed a seven stroke lead over Thailand and PH III in the girls division.

The 16-year-old Gandionco scored a one-under-par 71 while the 13-year-old Tolentino, a high school freshman at Marist, fired a two-over-par 74 at the Palmer course.

Sarit made a 70 while Dejpiratanamonkol had a 76 for a 146 total and a share of second place with Mondilla and Arevalo in the four-day event organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

Mondilla actually carded the day’s best output of six-under-par 66, highlighted by seven birdies, but Arevalo only managed an eight-over-par 80. Still, the 66 was good enough to push Mondilla on top of the individual race.

Sarah Jane Ababa (73) and Samantha Martinez (81) combined for a 154, the same output of the Thai duo of Benyapa Niphatsophon (77) and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (77), to stay seven off Superal and Pagdanganan.

Andrea Unson (80) and Mia Legaspi (79) were on fourth spot with 159 followed by Taiwan’s Chang Yu-hsin (78) and Chang Ya-chi (82) with 160.

ICTSI, Pancake House, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzling Pepper, Philippine Airlines, Pioneer Insurance, McDonalds, Duty Free Philippines, Hidden Springs, Julie’s Bake Shop, Inquirer Golf Monthly, Friends of JGFP, R&A, and the NGAP are sponsors.