Rising golf stars battle at ICTSI Luzon Leg

The ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series intensifies as the competition enters its fifth leg at the Luisita Golf and Country Club today (August 20, 2024), with young golfers vying for critical ranking points in their bid to secure spots in the upcoming Match Play Championship.

Leading the girls’ 10-12 category, Maurysse Abalos and Georgina Handog have set the pace with 43 and 37 points, respectively.

Following closely behind are Aerin Chan and Victoria Agamata with 27 and 24 points.

With Abalos and Agamata absent from this week’s tournament, the race tightens as Handog, Chan, and others push for top finishes to strengthen their standings.

“I’m really focusing on my game today. The competition is tough, but I’m determined to give it my best shot,” Handog said ahead of her 7:40 a.m. tee-off.

The 36-hole event is crucial, offering 15 points to the winner, with subsequent positions earning 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4 points.

The girls’ 8-9 division also promises an exciting contest, with Tyra Garingalao, Athena Serapio, and Venus delos Santos among the contenders.

Meanwhile, the boys’ category sees rising star Vito Sarines aiming to extend his lead in the 10-12 division, with strong challenges expected from Luis Espinosa and Ryuji Suzuki.

Mona Sarines, paired with Montserrat Lapuz and Zyrah de Leon, is set for a 7:45 a.m. start, while her twin Lisa competes against Precious Zaragosa and Kendra Garingalao in the next group.

The girls’ 13-15 division is also packed with talent, despite frontrunner Levonne Talion’s absence.

With only three legs remaining in the Luzon series, this week’s results are pivotal for many players aiming to secure one of the limited spots in the Match Play Championship, scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna.

The series, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by ICTSI, will determine the best four players from each category based on their top four scores.

These top contenders will then face off with 32 qualifiers from the Visayas and Mindanao series in the finals.