51-strong RP team opens Junior World quest

SAN Diego, California – A power-packed Philippine contingent that can contend from its littlest, youngest player to its most senior bet battles the best of the world in the 2010 Callaway Junior World golf championships starting Tuesday in various courses here.

Former division champions Dottie Ardina and Mia Legaspi and reigning Philippine amateur champions Clyde Mondilla and Irina Gabasa head a 51-strong delegation supported by the country’s flag-carrier Philippine Airlines considered as one of the strongest in years with members of the ICTSI pool which have been competing in tournaments here as early as two weeks ago also in the lineup.

“This team has a lot of winning potential and we hope to be able to pull it off,” said delegation head Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

Tabuena’s son, Miguel, is himself a strong bet in the 15-17 years class at the famed Torrey Pines course after figuring well in recent warmup events. Unson, 15, Princess Superal, 14, and 6-year-old Jed Dy also won their respective divisions in the San Diego Junior Masters last week to prime themselves up for the bigger event ahead.

Dottie Ardina, a three-time age-group winner and a David Leadbetter scholar of the ICTSI, will be seeking her fourth title after topping the 13-14 class in 2008, the 11-12 division in 2006 and the 8-under bracket in 2002.

The opening ceremonies is set for Sunday (Monday in Manila), the official practice round on Monday and the first round of competitions on Tuesday.