Puyat takes Ababa’s slot in RP golf team to Asian Games

MANILA—The Philippine men’s golf team to the Asian Games in November just got a lot younger—and hopefully, better.   Marcel Puyat, the teenage wonder who has honed his game in the United States, became the latest addition to the national squad after mainstay Jonel Ababa decided to turn pro.   “We just got confirmation in Japan last week from Marcel’s parents that the boy is willing to play,” Tommy Manotoc, chair of the RP team committee of the National Golf Association of the Philippines, told the Inquirer.   “It fits in the NGAP program to have young members for the national team.”   Puyat is in his freshman year on a golf scholarship at Stanford University, world No. 1 Tiger Woods’ school.   Manotoc saw Puyat in the Asian Amateur Championship won by Hideki Matsuyama in Japan over the weekend, where the Filipino finished tied with another RP team teener, Miguel Tabuena, just inside of the top 20.   Puyat will join Tabuena, Jessie Balasabas and Mark Fernando in the Asiad.