RP fields tough bets in world junior golf

SAN DIEGO, California – An impressive performance in the run-up event to the Callaway Junior World Championship will provide the morale-boost for the Philippine contingent when the prestigious tournament gets under way in various courses here Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

The 41-member RP team will see action in six age categories in the event that has produced some of the world’s greatest players since its inception in 1968.

Abby Arevalo claimed a one-shot victory in the 9-10 class while Miguel Tabuena took second place in the 13-14 bracket, the same finish by Andie Unson in the girls 13-14 and Daniella Uy in the 11-12 class, respectively, in the inaugural San Diego Junior Masters in Carlton Oaks last week.

That should augur well for the stint of the RP delegation, backed by Philippine Airlines, Samsung, Diamond Motors, ICTSI and Crestlink, which had its share of honors in the conclave, including a best ever finish in 31 years in 2006 on a triple-title romp by Dottie Ardina, Mia Legaspi and Cyna Rodriguez.

The team could only show two runner-up finishes last year through Ardina in the 13-14 division and Legaspi in the 7-8 class but hopes to get back on the winning track with a gutsy bunch of youngsters in the fold.

“The kids are in high spirits and we expect some good results this year,’’ said Beng Dela Paz, president of Junior Golf Federation of the Philippines, who heads the team.

Colorful parade of flags highlighted the opening ceremony Sunday at the dreaded Torrey Pines South course, venue of the recent US Open won by a hobbling Tiger Woods in dramatic fashion.

Focus, however, will be on Ardina, the most credentialed among the Filipinos, the in-form Chihiro Ikeda, winner of four titles, including the RP ladies Open last year, and Marcel Puyat as spearheads of the talent-laden ICTSI crew, who are all aiming for the crown in the 13-14 and 15-17 divisions, respectively.

Ardina, 14, who recently qualified to play in the US Women’s Amateur in Oregon next month and the youngest to play in the European ladies tour at 13, will be gunning for a third title, having missed the feat by one stroke last year.

Puyat, 15,  an Ateneo standout who won two tournaments on the international junior tour – in the US in Tampa and Orlando, Florida this year,  earning him a spot in the American Junior Golf Association All-Star series – and Jobim Carlos, winner of the O’Donnell Junior tourney, are two other fancied bets expected to do well.

JUNGOLF NOTES: On hand to assist the team are Gerry Handog, jungolf director for international affairs and coordinators Alberto Carlos, Lilibeth de Villa, Sonny Yee, Oscar Medalla, Norman Legaspi, Dante Reyes, Marian Monsalve and Arnell Ilas.