When action kicks off in the 2023 IMG Junior World Championships this week in California, Nicole Gaisano-Gan will be one of the returning Filipinos with experience competing in the prestigious tournament.

That experience will be key in the young golfers' campaign.

"I'm really excited, I know I've done my homework preparing for the tournament. My goal is to make the Top 10," said Gaisano-Gan, who qualified to participate in the 11-12 girls division of the IMG meet.

"Part of my preparation was the recent Inter-Club here where clubs from Thailand played here and it was a very good experience playing against world class level," she added.

Another part of her preparation for the IMG was the California Junior Golf tournament where she bagged the 11-14 division title late last month at the Harding course in Los Angeles.

Gaisano-Gan, who three-putted four of the last five holes, came through with a closing par for a one-over-par 74 for an eight-shot win over Ellie Kim and Luciana Vilchez.

The first time Gaisano-Gan played in the IMG was when she was seven years old back in 2018.

There was no IMG tournament in 2020 due to Covid-19 and in 2021 Gaisano-Gan did not join due to travel health restrictions. In 2022, she made it to her third time in the tournament.

Also seeing action in the IMG is her sister Stephanie Gaisano-Gan, who will participate in the 6-under girls division. The two are daughters of Oliver Gan — current head of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines — and wife Johanna.

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 11 to 13 July in El Cajon, California.

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