RP jungolfers begin hunt for honors in US

SAN DIEGO–After several close misses last year, the Philippines returns with yet another potent squad eyeing victories in the lower divisions in the Callaway Junior World golf championships starting Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) in six different courses here.

Dottie Ardina, the last Filipino winner with his runaway win at Presidio Hills two years ago, and Miguel Tabuena, his confidence boosted by a series of impressive stints lately, spearhead the bid of the 34-player strong Team Philippines as among the favorites in the Class D (9-10 division) at the super tough Reidy Creek course.

Wolen Superal, who led going to the final round last year but wasn’t able to complete the job in the 9-10 years class, returns to see action in the 11-12 years division at Lawrence Welk.

The two RP entries in the girls 6 years and under class (a newly introduced division to be played at Presidio Hills), Janella Buen and Abby Arevalo only have three foreign rivals in their division. Chances are either of them may pick up the title the Filipinos are looking for.

In contrast, Class A bets Tonlits Asistio, Justin Tambunting, Jayvie Agojo and Lovelyn Guiogio will have the toughest task at Torrey Pines.

They will be up against hundreds of the best amateurs in America and the rest of the world in a competition that more than the small champion’s trophy often guarantees scholarship offers from various top universities in the United States.

Agojo didn’t win last year but her Top 20 finish was enough to solicit four scholarship offers. She didn’t accept any of them but should be getting more offers if she plays well again this week against a field that includes Taiwanese hotshot Ya Ni Tseng.

The 15-year-old Asistio is playing the kind of game that is solid enough to surprise the big names. Asistio, playing out of Southwoods, went to Los Angeles early and regularly played the Torrey Pines course, site of the 2008 US Open.

"We have here a big team which hopefully can deliver a couple of victories. We told the kids just to try their best," said Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines which assembled the team sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Smart Kid, Samsung, Manila Southwoods and Callaway.

The delegation was treated to a dinner by the Philippine consulate here through the efforts of Sam Samson and members of the Fil-Am associations Sunday after the opening ceremonies.

With Ardina in her division is Andie Unson, last year’s best finisher who tied for second in the eight years and under division.

The Philippine entries:

Class A (Torrey Pines): Tonlits Asistio, Justin Tambunting, Jayvie Agojo, Lovelyn Guiogio

Class B (Singing Hills): Miko Yee, John Kier Abdon, Allan Guy, Crystal Superal, Debbie de Villa, Beverly Mendoza

Class C (Lawrence Welk): Wolen Superal, Carlos Tinio, Marcel Puyat, Cyna Rodriguez, Regine de Guzman, Mia Piccio

Class D (Ridley Creek): Miguel Tabuena, JP de Claro, Don Fernandez, Dottie Ardina, Andrea Legaspi, Andie Unson, Angela de Villa

Class E (Singing Hills): AR Ramos, JR Gonzales, Tonton Arevalo, Jason Buen, Princess Superal, Felicia Medalla

Class F (Presidio Hills): Rupert Saragoza, Justin Dy, Ivan Monsalve, Janella Buen, Abby Arevalo