Foreign-flavored Montecillo junior golf up

MANILA, Philippines - Thailand, Singapore and Guam are the first three countries to confirm their participation in the inaugural The Montecillo Junior Golf Team Championship which marks the country’s return to the roster of major international junior events on March 6-11 at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas.

Thailand, now considered one of the Asian powers in jungolf, is fielding four boys and three girls, Singapore is sending the same while Guam has submitted the names of four boys and a girl in the competition being staged by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines in honor of its late founder Amalia Montecillo.

The tourney is also expected to feature a crack contingent from Chinese-Taipei and Korea with the JGFP still awaiting pending confirmations from three more countries.

Included in the Philippine roster are Miguel Tabuena, Jobim Carlos, Clyde Mondilla, Rupert Zaragosa, Gio Gandionco, Kenneth Kano JP De Claro and Jonar Austria for the boys team and Andie Unson, Sarah Jane Ababa, Irina Gabasa, Princess Superal, Daniella Uy and Sheryl Villacencio.

“This (event) is the realization of our dream to be able to honor the woman who has left such a big legacy for junior golf Asia. The quick response of our neighbors in Asia manifests the respect they have for Mommy,” said JGFP president Luigi Tabuena.

The choice of Mt. Malarayat, Tabuena added, is consideration of its excellent facilities that include a world-class course and hotel accommodations.

The Mt. Malarayat is one of the many companies supporting the Montecillo tourney. The others are ICTSI, Pancake House Group, Terriyaki Boy, Sizzling Pepper, Diamond Motors/Chevrolet, MJ Carr Golf Management, Pisanti, Golf Depot, Pacsports, McDonald’s and Friends of Jungolf with Inquirer Golf and A Round of Golf as media partners.

The Philippine teams will be vying for the team honors against the best junior in Asia-Pacific. The boys has a four-to-play, three-to-count format for 72 holes while the 54-hole girls side will be three to play and two to count.

The top three teams and top three individuals for boys and girls will be awarded trophies and prizes by the JGFP, awards that the Philippine squads are tipped for strong contention with Tabuena riding the form that won him a silver medal in the last Asian Games in China, Zaragosa holding a Junior World title and Mondilla the reigning Philippine Amateur champion.