Bernardino eyes redemption in JPGT Mindanao series

Kelsey Bernardino, who barely missed a national finals berth in the Visayas series, seeks redemption as she sets her sights on the four-leg ICTSI Junior PGT Mindanao Series, which begins tomorrow (Tuesday, July 23) at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao.

Bernardino secured second place finishes in Iloilo and Negros Occidental and placed third in Bacolod, yet fell short of advancing as Zuri Bagaloyos and Cailey Gonzales clinched the top two spots in the first two legs of the three-stage Visayas series, moving on to the Match Play finals of the girls’ 10-12 age category.

Determined to earn a spot in the head-to-head championship set for Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna, the 11-year-old from Makati City is ready to slug it out with local talents Kimberly Barroquillo, Snoe Dalisay, Elize Naranjo and Angel Salvador, along with South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo, Bacolod’s Chelsea Ogborne, and Cebu’s Davelyn Dy, all eager to claim top honors and ranking points.

Intense competition is also expected in other age divisions, as players kick off their bids in the grueling regional series over the next four weeks at various challenging courses.

Leg 2 will be held at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates from July 30 to Aug. 2 in Davao. The Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon will host the third leg from Aug. 6-9, and the ICTSI-sponsored series will conclude at Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro from Aug. 12-15.

The best two results from these events will determine the players’ final rankings. The top two from each age division – 8-9, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18, for both boys and girls – will earn berths in the series’ finals organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., dedicated to discovering and developing talent, especially in the countryside.

Meanwhile, registration for the JPGT Mindanao series is ongoing. For details, contact PGTI’s Jhi Castillo at 0928-316-5678 or Shiela Salvania at 0968-311-4101.

Also aiming for a national finals berth is Santi Asuncion, who tied for sixth in the Negros Occidental and placed fifth in the Luzon Series 4 at Riviera.

The 15-year-old from Taguig City hopes to deliver strong performances in the coming weeks as he competes in the boys’ 13-15 class against local contenders Joaquin Pasquil, Daniel Nagayo, AJ Wacan, Dexter Eiki, Felix Bula III and Yuki Castos, with Hisham Gampong from Gen. Santos City also in the mix.