With no less than Filipino golfing legend Frankie Miñoza throwing his support, the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines launched the JGFP Mindanao Open Wednesday at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

Miñoza, 64, who hails from golf hotbed Del Monte, Bukidnon, drove all the way to watch some 50 young players from his hometown and the Cagayan de Oro including his niece, Crista Miñoza.

"That goes to show the overwhelming trust in the JGFP programs and activities," said JGFP president Oliver Gan whose group staged the first-ever tournament of the year.

Gan said spots in international competitions are at stake in the three-day meet which is a follow-up to the successful initial staging last year.

Some 40 boys and girls are seeing action, chasing World Amateur Golf ranking points including 14-year-old Singaporean Asara Sawhney.

Sawhney will also join the JGFP tournament in Cagayan de Oro next week as the junior golf-governing body intensified its search for the next big Filipino golf star.

"There are holes where you cannot hit a driver because of the canals that line up the fairways. The goal is to keep the ball on the fairway even if it means hitting irons off the tee," Sawhney was quoted as saying.

Among those gunning for top honors in the Girls' 13-14 are Sawhney, Nicole Gan, Zero Plete and Isabella Tabanas.

Action in the 12-under begins Thursday.