In full swing — With victories left and right, jungolfer Alethea Gaccion is ready to break out
‘At six years old, she’s involved in a different sport, triathlon.’
PHOTOGRAPHs COURTESY OF Alfred Gaccion ALETHEA Gaccion is on a roll this year with titles in the national-level tournaments as well as in the international stage.
Over at Cagayan de Oro, far away from the glare of spotlight in Metro Manila, there is a new emerging force in junior golf that has been making a noise especially this year.
Just last month, Alethea Paige O. Gaccion captured runner-up honors in the Faldo Series European Grand Finals for Girls 16-under held at Al Ain Equestrian ang Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.
She will be flying to Manila this week ranged against the country's finest in the National Golf Association of the Philippine National Double Amateurs at the Aguinaldo Golf Club.
Then Gaccion would spend New Year's Day back home. Only to return for the NGAP National Stroke Play at Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac — venue of her Mommy Maling Montecillo Open Ladies Junior 14-18 championship just a few weeks earlier.
Gaccion is nicknamed Ally, most likely as a play of words because her father, Alfred is a lawyer. But if there's any allegation to be filed against the 16-year-old, it's talent, hard work and dedication in the first degree.
"At six years old, she's involved in a different sport, triathlon," Alfred said.
"But at age eight of nine, I brought her to the golf course that's how it began."
With a coaching support that includes no less than Frankie Minoza, Alethea kept on winning.
From September this year, she captured the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Vis-Min, Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines Mimosa Junior Open and the NGAP Singha Junior and Amateur Qualifier also at Luisita.
AFTER winning Asian Grand Final of the Faldo Asia Grand Finals held in Vietnam early this year, Alethea Gaccion wound up second in the European edition recently.