Edoc aims for Finals slot at JPGT Riviera leg

SILANG, Cavite – Zoji Edoc sets his sights on victory as the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series resumes today, July 29, with the Riviera JPGT Championship at the Couples course of the Riviera Golf Club Inc.

With the Finals drawing near, Edoc looks to build on his third-place finish at the Junior World in San Diego.

He aims not only for a second leg win in the boys’ 7–10 division but also to lock in a spot in the ICTSI Junior PGT Finals slated for Oct. 7–10 at The Country Club in Laguna.

Already a winner at Sherwood Hills, the Taytay native holds 39 points, boosted by runner-up finishes at Eagle Ridge and Splendido Taal.

A win in the 36-hole tournament would nearly guarantee him a place among Luzon’s representatives in the Ryder Cup-style national championship.

Edoc faces a tough field featuring Asher Abad, Halo Pangilinan, Alexian Ching, Paul Yambao, James Padron, Jethro Bayron, Matteo dela Cruz, Samuel Ababa, Andre Muyot, and Giulio Ballado—all eager to climb the leaderboard and keep their Finals hopes alive.

In the girls’ 7–10 division, Penelope Sy (30 points) and Tyra Garingalao (28) aim to strengthen their hold on the top four.

Bulacan’s Venus delos Santos, fifth with 24 points, remains a strong threat with a late push for qualification.

Mavis Espedido (45) and Athena Serapio (37) have virtually secured the top two spots, leaving a tight race for the final berths in this fifth leg of the seven-stage regional series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

In the boys’ 11–14 division, fireworks are expected in another 36-hole showdown.

Ryuji Suzuki (42) and Vito Sarines (39) lead the standings but are skipping this leg.

Third-placer Jacob Casuga (35) eyes a breakthrough win to secure his Finals berth.

Race Manhit (18), currently fifth, is in must-win mode with No. 4 Ryuichi Tao (36) also sitting out this leg.

A win could revive Manhit’s campaign and shake up the leaderboard for other contenders.

In the girls’ 11–14 bracket, twins Lisa and Mona Sarines have all but clinched their Finals spots with 42 points each but are still competing this week.

Kendra Garingalao (30) leads the pack chasing the remaining two spots, with every stroke potentially decisive.

Also in the mix are Alexie Gabi, Kelly Ng, Mena Dimaunahan, Marqaela Dy, Kay Mauricio, Arielle Espartero, Reign Waterman, Althea Bañez, Giulian Ballado, and Annika Abad.

The girls’ 15–18 division is led by Rafa Anciano, who holds 45 points after three wins.

Levonne Talion (39) sits comfortably in second, but the battle for the final slots is tight.

Chloe Rada (20), Tiffany Bernardino (18), and Angelica Bañez (12) are pushing hard, along with Ayesha Salino, Sasha Buendia, and Gabriela Sison.

The boys’ 15–18 field is equally stacked, with Zachary Villaroman (32), Patrick Tambalque (30), and Shinichi Suzuki (27) leading the charge.

All three have played consistent golf throughout the ICTSI-sponsored series, and a win here could be pivotal.

Still in the hunt are Jose Carlos Taruc (18), Bien Fajardo (12), and Kristoffer Nadales (12), while Ramon Fabie, Rafael Mañaol, Santino Pineda, Francis Slavin, Alonso Espartero, Kyle Ng, and Scott Ng round out the contenders.

The top four players in each division after seven legs will advance to the Finals in October, making every round, hole, and shot at Riviera crucial.