Riviera hosts key leg in Junior PGT Luzon series

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With multiple wins through the first four legs of the ICTSI Junior PGT Elite Golf Series Luzon swing, standouts Mavis Espedido, Zach Guico, twins Lisa and Mona Sarines, Ryuji Suzuki, and Rafa Anciano have virtually locked in their spots in the Elite Junior Finals.

That leaves the rest of the field in a spirited race for top honors and vital ranking points as the Luzon series resumes with Leg 5 on Tuesday, July 29, at the Couples course of the Riviera Golf Club in Silang, Cavite.

A deep and competitive roster is set to compete in the ICTSI Riviera JPGT Championship, with players from all three age divisions — 7–10, 11–14, and 15–18 — in both boys’ and girls’ categories aiming to boost their bids for spots in the Elite Junior Finals, set for Oct. 7–10 at The Country Club in Laguna.

The finals will feature a Ryder Cup-style showdown between Luzon and Visayas–Mindanao’s top performers, promising intense action and regional pride.

In the 7–10 category, which spans 36 holes, top girl contenders include Penelope Sy, Tyra Garingalao, Venus Delos Santos, Ziyu Liu, Cala Tolentino, Frances Guevarra, Ronee Dungca, and Tyly Bernardino.

The boys’ division in the same age group features Zoji Edoc, Halo Pangilinan, Kingston Ching, James Padron, Jethro Bayron, Matteo Dela Cruz, Giulio Ballado, and Samuel Ababa.

The girls’ 11–14 division is equally competitive, with Kendra Garingalao, Althea Bañez, Giulian Ballado, Kelly Ng, Mena Dimaunahan, Marqaela Dy, Kay Mauricio, Arielle Espartero, and Reign Waterman all seeking key ranking points.

A stacked boys’ 11–14 division includes Iñigo Gallardo, Jacob Casuga, Wilfredo Dimaunahan, Lemuel Abad, Race Manhit, Zianbeau Edoc, Lorenzo Juane, Jacobo Gomez, Antonio Cruz, Nathaniel Yeung, and Zuhao Liu, along with Adrian Irinco, Isaac Dillera, Aiden Cruz, Andrei Cruz, Giulius Ballado, Majgen Gomez, and Lucas Uy.

In the premier 15–18 division, Rafa Anciano and Chloe Rada look to secure their finals slots as they face tough challenges from Tiffany Bernardino, Angelica Bañez, Ayesha Salino, Sasha Buendia, and Gabriela Sison in a 54-hole showdown.

The boys’ 15–18 category is wide open, with Zachary Villaroman leading at 32 points, closely followed by Patrick Tambalque.

Still in contention are Jose Carlos Taruc with 18 points and Bien Fajardo and Kristoffer Nadales, both with 12.

Other challengers include Kyle Ng, Scott Ng, Stefano Tami, Vincent Ilagan, Alonso Espartero, Jacob Bayron, Andre Lina, Francis Slavin, Emilio Gamboa, Santino Pineda, and Aaron Azurin.

To qualify for the Elite Junior Finals, players must compete in at least three of the seven regional events.

The top four players from each age division in Luzon and Visayas–Mindanao will then face off in the season-ending finale.

The Mindanao swing has concluded, while the two postponed Visayas legs — originally delayed due to the Mount Kanlaon eruption in May — have been rescheduled for Sept. 15–17 in Negros and Sept. 18–20 in Bacolod.