Miñozas lead PGF Junior Masters Mindanao leg

MANILA, Philippines - Siblings Almica and Alfa Mae Miñoza and their cousin Martina Miñoza clinched tickets to the national finals after topping their respective divisions in the recent Mindanao qualifier of the Philippine Golf Foundation Junior Masters at the Del Monte golf course in San Miguel, Bukidnon.

Almica and Alfa Mae finished 1-2 in the girls 13-14 years with just two strokes separating them, while Martina dominated the girls 11-12 years. The three nieces of local golfing superstar Frankie lead the 14 qualifiers from the Mindanao stage of a four-leg nationwide qualifying series that will culminate in the grand finals late this month at Eagle Ridge.

Almica finished at 207 to finish ahead of Alfa Mae who wound up at 209. Martina was hardly challenged in her division with her 159 enough for a 15-stroke win over second qualifier Fiona Bajao.

JJ Gamolo lived up to his billing as the top seed of the tourney jointly staged by the PGF and the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) when he pulled off a nine-stroke win in the boys 15-17 years division with 144 total against the 153 of runner-up Ronel Tagaan.

In the girls side, the seasoned Pamela Mariano (151) wound up 19 ahead of Rhea Lagamin (170).

Jetts Sajulga (144) was the boys 13-14 years winner by 14 strokes over Joshua Salcedo (158) while Rolando Bregente (166) and Jacob Rolida (172) took the slots in boys 11-12 as the top two finishers.

Zeus Sara and Marie Aparilla were runaway winners in the 9-10 years bracket with Sara (184), winning by 19 over Ken Ruel Zonio (203) and Aparilla (179) taking the girls crown by 21 over Ma. Rafaela Singson (200).

In the nine-hole competions in the 7-8 years age-group, Edison Tabalin rallied on the second day to beat Simon Wahing by two, 78-80. Kiara Montebon ruled the girls side by four over Abby Abarcas, 107-111.

On May 21-22, Mt. Malarayat will host the Southern Luzon leg of the qualifying series that is part of the Philippine Golf Foundation’s support to the grassroots talent search of the JGFP.