Jungolfers vie in Southern Challenge

BACOLOD — Jungolfers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao mix it up in a pre-school opening showdown when the Jungolf Southern Challenge fires off today at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course here.

At least 85 kids from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Del Monte and host Bacolod will be vying for honors in five age-group classifications for boys and girls in the 54-hole tourney ending Friday.

Jayvie Agojo and Nonoy Negrido will be bannering the Big City bets, while veteran internationalists Mia Piccio, Jasper Braga and Nonoy Negrido will be leading the Visayan charge.

The event, which is part of the Samsung Jungolf Tour, is being organized by the Negros chapter of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines headed by Jomari Limjap with Pike Braga as tournament chairman. Jungolf president Gerry Handog is set to fly Bacolod to grace the tournament.

The Southern Challenge is being staged a week after the Airlift Asia Classic match play was washed out by typhoon Chedeng. The weather in Bacolod, however, couldn’t be better ensuring perfect playing conditions for the participants.

Agojo has played in just four legs of the circuit this summer but her preparations for the Queen Sirikit Cup which was called off due to the SARS scare should make her tough to beat in her division.

Agojo and Piccio are also preparing for their forthcoming stints in the Junior World tourney in San Diego, California and two other major events.

They are set to leave early next month.

Trophies donated by Jungolf will be awarded to the winners.