Thailand tilt slots up for grabs in Riviera junior event

More than 100 players will tee off at Riviera’s three courses on Sunday in the first Oliver Gan Junior Invitational that will dangle several slots to the prestigious Thailand Junior Golf Championship later this year.

The event, which will not be charging the participants a cent, with be an 18-hole affair as organizers try to determine the best representatives for the country in Thailand.

Celine Abalos, a veteran internationalist, banners the big field of advanced players seeing action at the Langer layout, while those who are younger will play the Couples course and players entered in the 10-and-below division will tackle the par-3 layout.

Gan, a former jungolfer, has taken the initiative to hold this tournament to help in the development of junior golf in the country. He has promised to come up with a second edition to accommodate dozens of others who were turned away.

“We’ll see if we can have another one to know who would be included [to the team] or who are qualified, because we want to send the best team, best players possible,” said Gan.

Stevie Umali, Zach Villoraman, Elysse Co, Mika Arroyo, Zach Castro, Monique Arroyo, Tyler Zamuco and Patrick Tambaque are the other notable entries.