South seeks revenge against North in ICTSI JPGT Finals

Team South will bank on home-course familiarity and a stronger sense of urgency when it faces defending champion Team North in the ICTSI Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour Finals from Aug. 18 to 20.

The Ryder Cup-style rematch will be played at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro.

South will seek redemption after losing to North, 26 1/2-21 1/2, in last year’s inaugural championship at The Country Club.

The home side enters the three-day tournament with several players who have experience and previous success at Pueblo de Oro.

Those players include Stephen Clementer and Soleil Molde in the 7-10 age group, Jared Saban and Brittany Tamayo in the 11-14 division, and Alexis Nailga and Precious Zaragosa in the 15-18 class.

North will counter South’s course knowledge with a lineup built around preparation, chemistry and the experience of winning last year’s championship.

Team play and camaraderie will take center stage during the Four-ball and Foursomes rounds over the first two days.

Individual shot-making, composure and match-play poise will become decisive when the championship shifts to Singles on the final day.

The team rosters were reshaped after the six-leg Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao Series, where the top performers earned places on their respective squads.

Finding effective player combinations could therefore become as important as individual skill during the opening team sessions.

North established early control in last year’s championship by dominating the Four-ball matches, 8-4.

The Northerners followed with a 6 1/2-5 1/2 victory in Foursomes to build a commanding advantage entering the final round.

North maintained its composure in Singles by winning 11 of the 24 matches and halving two others.

South will need a much stronger opening to prevent the defending champions from repeating that formula.

North’s girls’ 7-10 lineup features Winter Serapio, Jaicee Cervantes, Andrea Dee and Jehanne Mendoza.

Zach Guicio, Zoji Edoc, Kenzo Tan and Kingston Ching comprise North’s boys’ 7-10 roster.

South will field Molde, Ana Marie Aguilar, Vanya Go and Akeisha Yocte in the girls’ 7-10 division.

Clementer, Ethan Lago, Lucas Revilleza and Darren Ong will represent South in the boys’ 7-10 category.

The 11-14 competition is also expected to produce closely contested matchups.

North’s girls’ roster consists of Cailey Gonzales, Georgina Handog, Mavis Espedido and Quincy Pilac.

Chan Ahn, Vito Sarines, Javie Bautista and Jacob Casuga will carry North’s campaign in the boys’ 11-14 division.

South will counter with Marqaela Dy, Rafella Batican, Zuri Bagaloyos and Tamayo in the girls’ category.

Ken Guillermo, Ralph Batican, Mico Woo and Saban make up South’s boys’ 11-14 lineup.

The 15-18 division will provide another major chapter in the North-South rivalry.

North will field Lisa Sarines, Rafa Anciano, Mona Sarines and Kendra Garingalao in the girls’ premier division.

South will rely on Tashanah Balangauan, Apple Gotiong, Lois Lane Go and Zaragosa.

The boys’ 15-18 division is expected to deliver some of the tournament’s highest-caliber matches.

North’s Shinichi Suzuki, Jakob Taruc, Nathan Belandres and Santi Asuncion will defend the championship against South’s Sebastian Sajuela, Clement Ordeneza, Roman Tiongko and Nailga.

South may hold an advantage from knowing Pueblo de Oro’s contours, hazards and course-management demands.

North believes its preparation, shared experience and trust under pressure can neutralize the hosts’ familiarity with the course.

The finals will bring together the leading junior performers from the North and South qualifying circuits in another test of regional depth, teamwork and match-play nerve. ⁠