PGT launches 10-leg junior circuit

From the initial drive-chip-and putt events, the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) is going all out in supporting junior golf by penciling 10 legs for the Junior PGT starting this summer over some of the country’s finest championship layouts.

PGT general manager Colo Ventosa made the announcement on Wednesday as her organization that is being financed by golf patron Ricky Razon will continue to operate a nonprofit circuit to help the grassroots development of golf in the land.

And they will be doing it without going head-on against other junior golf organizations while inviting members of the other groups to come and play their events.

“Everybody is invited to play (in the JPGT),” said Ventosa. “If they have a tournament, we will make sure we don’t hold an event at that time, because the more tournaments, the better it is for the players.”

Talent turnover

Ventosa said that part of the reason for going all-out with the JPGT is to ensure that turnover of talent to the professional men’s and ladies circuits that ICTSI also bankrolls.

“We’re doing this so that we can also help the Philippine Golf Tour and the Ladies PGT grow,” said Ventosa. “We want to boost the sport in the country and we also want to grow the young players to be the next professional golfers to represent the country abroad, like Bianca (Pagdanganan), Dottie (Ardina) and Princess (Superal).”

The final leg of the series will be held at the ultra-exclusive The Country Club layout sometime in September.

While the JPGT acknowledges that it cannot send PH representatives to international meets, Ventosa said that “we have friends in Malaysia, Thailand, etc. who can accommodate the bright performers of our circuit to play their events.”

Funding these kids to play in overseas tournaments is also one of the goals of the JPGT.