Salahog, Ng head IMG qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines — Bobe Salahog ruled the boys’ 15-18 category while Reese Ng dominated the 15-18 girls’ division in the IMG Junior World Championships qualifying tournament last Sunday at Eagle Ridge in Cavite.

Salahog carded a final-round 76 to force a tie with Jacob Cajita’s 78. They finished the three-day meet with identical 230s before Salahog won the two-hole playoff.

Salahog and Cajita earned spots to the IMG tournament with Santino Pineda and Zachary Castro, who placed third and fourth in the said category of the meet organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) headed by Oliver Gan.

Ng had a final-round 73 for a 233 to book her spot in the IMG meet set July 16 to 22 in California with runnersup Alethea Gaccion, Anya Cedo and Grace Quintanilla.

Nicole Gaisano-Gan earned her third straight trip to the IMG as she ruled the 11-12 girls by a stroke. Her third 78 gave her a total of 248 to beat the 249 of Lisa Sarines.

In the qualifying events for the prestigious IMG meet, Stephanie Gaisano-Gan and Kenzo Gavin Tan (boys’ and girls’ U6), and Kamilla Edrianna del Mundo and Sooreen Lee (boys’ and girls’ 7-8) prevailed.

Precious Zaragosa and Brittany Tamayo, who bested Lisa’s twin Mona Sarines in a playoff for the fourth spot, earned the last two IMG positions for the said category.

Ralph Batican topped the boys 11-12 with a score of 239, and will be joined by David Teves, Zianbeau Edoc and Anton Zingapan, who defeated John Gomez also in a playoff for the fourth spot.

“It was a tough competition as several of the categories were decided by playoffs,” said JGFP president Oliver Gan. “It was a successful event because our young golfers from Visayas and Mindanao joined the tournament.”

Other winners and IMG qualifiers include Tristan Padilla, Geoffrey Tan, Patrick Tambalque and Rafael Leonio in 13-14 boys; Alessandra Luciano, Celine Abalos, Tashanah Balangauan and Isabella Tabanas in 13-14 girls; Vito Sarines, Chan Ahn, Jared Saban and Race Manhit in 9-10 boys; and Quincy Pilac, Aerin Chan, Rafella Batican and Makayla Verano in 9-10 girls.

The annual IMG meet will have the 6-under and 7-8 boys and girls divisions play at the Singing Hills Pine Glenn and Pine Oak courses at Sycuan Resort on July 16-22 in El Cajon, California.

The 11-12 years old will be played at the Heights Golf Course in Sam Diego, while the 15-18 divisions will be played at Torrey Pines, and the 13-14 is set at Rancho Bernardo Heights.