Intense competition as ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon series continues

1 of 2

SILANG, Cavite – The battle for top spots intensifies as the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon series resumes today at the Riviera Golf and Country Club’s Couples course.

With players competing in four age categories, the event promises fierce and intense matches as participants aim to secure their places in the Philippine Junior Match Play Championship.

Vito Sarines, the victor of previous stops at Splendido Taal and Pradera Verde, seeks another win in the boys’ 10-12 bracket. However, he faces tough competition from Jacob Casuga, Prince Sales, Xavier Palacios, and Ezekiel Opinion.

Points accumulated at each leg determine rankings, with the top four boys and girls after the Luzon swing qualifying for the national finals in Laguna this October.

The Visayas series concluded last week, securing 16 players their spots in the finals. The Mindanao tour will begin later this month, featuring tournaments at Apo, South Pacific, Del Monte, and Pueblo de Oro, with the top two players from each category advancing.

The Luzon series counts the players’ top four results, while the Mindanao series considers the best two results. Maurysse Abalos, who triumphed in the girls’ 10-12 category in Negros Occidental, is poised for another win against Georgina Handog, Quincy Pilac, Aerin Chan, and Lily Agamata.

Handog had previously shared top honors with Abalos in the 8-10 class at Splendido and Pradera before the age-group format expanded to four brackets.

Patrick Tambalque returns from the Singapore Open to pursue another victory in the boys’ 16-18 category after a dominant win in Visayas Series 2 in Murcia, Bacolod.

Challenging him are Harry Sales, Alonso Espartero, Francis Slavin, Mark Kobayashi, Abram Lim, Rolly Duran, and Alejandro Arabia.

In the girls’ premier category, Pinewoods leg winner Rafa Anciano will face Chloe Rada, Casey Frankum, Gabriela Sison, and Iloilo’s Necky Tortosa.

The 13-15 class features competitors like Jose Carlos Taruc, Matthias Espina, Clark Bayani, John Paul Agustin Jr., Miguel Encarnacio, Ramon Fabie, Jayden Macatangay, Gavin Chua, and Santi Asuncion (boys), and Gen. Santos City’s Alexie Gabi, Levonne Talion, Maria Monserrat Lapuz, Kendra Garingalao, and Ayesha Salino (girls).

Cebu’s Kvan Alburo, already a finalist after topping the Visayas series, joins the boys’ 8-9 division to further hone his skills. He will compete against Michael Ray Hortel II and Jesus Yambao. In the girls’ youngest division, Tyra Garingalao, Athena Serapio, Andrea Dee, and Penelope Sy will vie for top honors.

Sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., the circuit aims to identify young talent and foster camaraderie among participants.

The PGTI ensures no scheduling conflicts with other junior golf organizations, allowing the circuit to operate independently.